April-July 2014: Animal care, tree planting and pen construction

We have had the pleasure of having Paynesville Primary School Grade 6 Students
Simone Turner, Sophie Randall & Shelby Heatley volunteering to help us as a part of their Rotary Community Service Awards.

The girls have helped with cleaning, browse collecting and sorting of seedlings. With a few weeks of work still to go, the girls will be busy helping look after new trees and feeding hungry Koalas. Thank-you to them for their dedicated hard work.

Last month saw the completion of the new outdoor holding pen. With a special thank-you to Derrick Nuttell and Bernie Ryan for their help in the construction. We are very grateful for donated money which has funded this much needed project.

We have also been busy with our Koala browse plantation. Tree planting commenced in May and was finished in June. These trees will provide a critical food source for Koalas in care, for the future. We are very grateful to our very generous Neighbour for donating his land for the Shelter to use. All trees are grown by the Shelter from Island seed.

Donations

The Shelter operates purely on donated money .

Our new Ferry Park sign helps us find much needed support to be able to operate.

The Shelter has incurred to date from January 2013- July 2014 veterinary costs exceeding $6000.

This doesn’t include any other expenses we use & need to operate the Shelter and to expand much needed facilities.

We once again thank everyone for their financial support to help us care for the Wildlife.

Thank-you to Island Artist Brendan Sims for donating his time to help design and paint our sign.

Donations can be made to : Raymond Island Koala & Wildlife Shelter

Bendigo Bank BSB: 633-000  Account No:147871842

Thank-you

April-July 2014: animals in care

Ali, 14 months, enjoying a cuddle

Ali our baby Kangaroo is now 16 months and growing. Ali is now down to 3 bottles a day .He suffered a setback over the past 2 months coming down with pneumonia and E-coli. He is now recovering and slowing gaining weight again.   

Ali on IV drip

Little Nell our baby koala joey is now 19 months and not a baby anymore. She has been soft released and made her home between the Shelter and the neighbours.

Baby Nell, 7 month

Nell grown up - 19 months

April - July 2014: wildlife statistics

Paynesville Primary Grade 6 students

Koalas - 8

1 male & 1 Female found dead, both malnourished, Chlamydia present.
1 male from Granite Rock suffering from head trauma, euthanaised.
5 females all malnourished, Chlamydia present. 4 euthanaised ,1 died in care
1 male joey 10 months old died in care.

Swans - 2

1 young male hit by boat, died in care. 

1 adult male fishing hook in his beak, successfully caught and removed.

Wallabies - 2

Mum carrying baby hit by car in Centre Rd both died.

Kangaroos - 8

Mum carrying baby hit by vehicle, sustained a badly broken leg, she was sadly euthanaised. Male baby was taken into care but sadly passed away 3 days later.

2 juveniles, 1 male 1 female hit by vehicles, Gravelly Pt Rd both died.
2 adult males hit by vehicles Gravelly Pt Rd both died.
1 adult male hit by car at Nicholson was euthanaised .
1 male joey died in care

Mum was hit by a car and baby suffered mouth trauma and shock as a result.

Birds - 2

 Eastern Rosella hit by car outside the Bairnsdale Golf Course remains in care suffering from head trauma and wing damage.
Eastern Yellow Robin died in care cause unknown, unable to fly.

The Shelter wishes to thank all the residents for helping us care for the Wildlife by calling us when an animal is in need.

A friendly reminder to adopt “Island time” while commuting on the Island. With a high number of Kangaroos being hit and killed, we need to just drive a little slower, being extra careful early morning and late afternoon.

Remembering the speed limit is 50km unless signed otherwise.

Kangaroos have poor eye sight and take fright quickly. They are unpredictable in the direction you think they might go often jumping infront of cars without warning.

It was very sad to see one of our rare Albino Kangaroos hit and killed in May.