The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #118722 Message #2570494
Posted By: Rowan
18-Feb-09 - 07:45 PM
Thread Name: BS: Koala and Fire fighter
Subject: RE: BS: Koala and Fire fighter
Time flies when you're having senior moments; we started the WIRES New England Branch 20 years ago, not 10. I took the idea to South Carolina but the infrastructure was differently organised. From the info I've gathered over the years it seems that most of the English-speaking countries have their similar organisations centred on professionals. The Oz versions all seem to have 'democratised' the expertise by relying on amateurs (properly trained, of course) for all the relevant activities; rescue, rehabilitation, release and education.
Because so much of Oz wildlife is marsupial, it's quite common to find infants in pouches that, with proper care, can be raised and subsequently released as wild animals, even when they're hairless 'jelly babies'. All WIRES rescuers and carers take it as routine that a roadkill is inspected to check whether it is female and whether its pouch is occupied; if neither is the case the carcase is removed from the road so that it doesn't attract carnivores onto the road to add to the toll.
Cheers, Rowan