Drought, bushfires lead to more orphaned native animals in NSW

The drought, bushfires and even road accidents are leading to an increase in baby animals like koalas and wombats being orphaned. Wildlife rescue organisation WIRES is urging people to keep a lookout in a bid to save these abandoned native animals.

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The kind-hearted pair first thought the little bundle of light grey fluff lit up by their car’s headlights on the road ahead was a cat or kitten.

But when they pulled over they discovered a koala joey and, at just seven months old, she should not have been alone.

Koalas stay with their mums for a year before striking out on their own.

“They carefully wrapped her in a towel and WIRES picked her up,” a spokeswoman for the WIRES wildlife rescue organisation said of the joey they have called Poppy, found on a road in the Campbelltown area in Sydney’s west.

“We tried for two days to find her mother but couldn’t find any females in the area.

“We’ll continue to look for the mother and will keep her in care until she can be released.”

Baby koala Poppy was rescued and is being looked after by WIRES. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Ivy the wombat has been left orphaned after a road accident. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

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The group fears Poppy may have become an orphan, her mother possibly hit by a car, or killed by a cat, dog or fox, and is anticipating a surge in calls to save native animals and, in particular, orphaned youngsters.

“Part of the reason is the ongoing drought and the bushfires. We’re also getting road incidents in rural areas (as wildlife are drawn to roadside vegetation),” the WIRES spokeswoman said.

“We have 2800 NSW volunteers and it’s still getting overwhelming.

“As soon as people see a lot of animals on the road, we get a lot of calls and we expect there will be a lot on the road because of the conditions.”

Kane, a six-mnoth-old eastern grey kangaroo, was orphaned. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

A WIRES volunteer with rescued ringtail possums. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

The group has also been overwhelmed by people’s concern for animals even in the midst of the chaos of raging bushfires. They have been ­receiving 600-700 calls for help a day.

“They’re calling in and rescuing ­animals while the bushfires are happening. It’s so wonderful to see how many people call in and try to help,” the spokeswoman said.

She said there were some simple ways to help wildlife.

“Be careful of driving dawn and dusk, which is when animals like travelling, leave water out in bowls on your property, and keep pets away from wildlife,” she said.

* Donate to the WIRES emergency fund at wires.org.au/donate/emergency-fund