Currumbin Sanctuary wildlife hospital in desperate need of towels and sheets as patient number soar

THE Currumbin Wildlife Hospital is seeing more than 50 injured animals a day thanks to the breeding season — and they are desperate to get this one common household item.

AN unprecedented wave of injured wildlife has the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary Hospital pleading for donations of sheets and towels after a “very busy” start to spring.

One day last week, the vets treated a whopping 51 animals in one day.

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The Currumbin Wildlife Hospital is seeing a whopping 51 animals a day. Photo by Richard Gosling

Senior vet Michael Pyne said the hospital had been inundated with injured animals and birds in August and September, with staff handling up to 30 a day on average due to the fact that many animals produced offspring in springtime.

WETSUITS NEEDED FOR WILDLIFE HOSPITAL

Constant development of the Coast’s natural habitats had also caused an increase in hospital admissions, with animals injured while on the move.

“Animals produce offspring around this time, so naturally we see a lot of baby birds and things that have fallen out of trees. There are a lot of ducklings and birds being brought in to us,” he said.

“It is always a struggle with funding when we get so many injured animals through but the

Photo of vet nurse Stephanie Pilgrim with an injured Tawny Frog Mouth. Photo by Richard Gosling

community can help us out greatly by just donating sheets and towels.

“We need linen that isn’t fraying as we don’t want the animals to catch their feet or hurt themselves.

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“We go through a lot of towels and sheets and our industrial washing machine is going all day every day to wash them all.

“We have lovely volunteers who are constantly washing and folding all day long because we go through so many.

“You can imagine our patients can be very messy.

“We also use the towels on the benches to make it more comfortable for them.

“They are also used to restrain some animals comfortably.”

To donate, drop off at 27 Millers Dve, Currumbin.