Brisbane vet shares confronting reality of working at the RSPCA Wildlife Hospital

A vet at Queensland’s busiest wildlife hospital said it was “bursting at the seams” with critical care cases that leave staff heartbroken.

An RSPCA Wildlife Hospital vet said the facility is “bursting at the seams” with critical care cases that often leave its staff heartbroken, from koala joeys riddled with bullets to those displaced by floods and development.

Queensland’s busiest wildlife hospital, which cares for over 27,000 native animals every year, is opening its doors in new six-part SBS series Wildlife ER, offering a raw look at the daily cases and challenges for staff and volunteers.

Dr Rebecca Millers, who has been with the wildlife hospital since 2014, is among the veterinarians featured in the series, captured saving a koala joey by performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation after the critically ill animal suddenly stopped breathing mid-examination.

“I can count on one hand the amount of times I’ve successfully resuscitated a koala,” she said.

“That was definitely an adrenaline-filled moment for everyone involved. We knew we had a matter of seconds. Everything goes out the door and it’s all hands on deck.”

RSPCA Wildlife Hospital head veterinarian Rebecca Millers pictured with Roger a male koala who was injured after falling out of a tree. Photo: David Clark

Dr Millers, a mother of three, started her career at Sea World and was then a tiger handler at Australia Zoo, hired by the late Steve Irwin, before completing her veterinary studies.

She said the RSPCA Wildlife Hospital, Australia’s busiest wildlife hospital, was currently inundated by displaced animals such as micro bats affected by Queensland’s heatwave and other wildlife increasingly impacted by recent natural disasters and urban development.

“Because of urban development we do see certain animals at certain times of year,” Dr Millers said.

“It’s been a huge change from where I started to where I am now. We are literally bursting at the seams. The numbers just seem to be increasing.

“We never turn away an animal and I think that’s why. It makes it tricky. You get into this job knowing you are a compassionate person and love animals so you never say no but it does take a toll.

“We are a close team and I think you have to be to cope with the emotion that comes in a high pressure environment.”

The other cases are a result of animal cruelty cases, with common instances including birds shot with BB guns and kangaroos speared with arrows.

Wildlife ER follows the RSPCA Wildlife Hospital and airs on February 8 on SBS.

“You do see some horrible things,” she said. “We had a baby koala that had I don’t even know how many BB gun bullets in its body.

“That was pretty confronting. It does break your heart to see those cases.”

The staff hold a debrief meeting at the end of each day to work through the difficult cases before heading home.

“We have had quite a few tears in the hospital. We are so close because we go though those traumatic events,” Dr Millers said.

“You think about the ones you can save so you can get up in the morning and do it again.”

For Dr Millers that includes a green sea turtle named Gemma struck by a boat and successfully released after one year in the hospital’s care.

There was also a koala that was admitted on the night of a State of Origin game with two fractured legs and little chance of survival.

She saved the animal after multiple surgeries and released the koala, who was appropriately named “Maroon”.

Dr Millers pictured with Dixie an orphaned Black Stripped Wallaby. Photo: David Clark

“You see those cases and think there’s no way and to see them head out the door definitely make those long days worthwhile,” Dr Millers said.

With Wildlife ER, produced by Brisbane’s Wildbear Entertainmen, t set to premiere on SBS next week, Dr Millers hoped it inspired a renewed passion in protecting and caring for Queensland’s native wildlife.

“The way this series was filmed is definitely like no other production we’ve been part of. It’s fly on the wall and nothing is off limits,” she said.

“The reality of it is our wildlife is in danger and needs help. I’m just so grateful we can provide those services and I’m hoping it will educate those audiences, and sparks that interest and love in Australian wildlife that we all have.”

Wildlife ER will premiere on Wednesday on SBS.