Humble wetsuit used as anaesthetic masks at Currumbin Wildlife Hospital on Gold Coast

AT Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, the humble wetsuit is helping to save the lives of our sometimes very oddly-shaped native wildlife. Here’s how.

Vet nurse Stephanie Pilgrim with Jimmy the Barn Owl. Picture Mike Batterham

WETSUITS are being used at Currumbin Wildlife Hospital to save the lives of oddly-shaped Australian native wildlife.

The animal hospital is cutting retired wetsuits into anaesthetic masks to cover a mind-boggling array of snouts, noses, muzzles, bills and beaks of local birds and animals.

Vet nurse Mimi Dona with a Short Beak Echidna. Picture Mike Batterham

Head vet Dr Michael Pyne said conventional anaesthetic masks just didn’t cut it because the animals — be it dingo, cockatoo, echidna or bandicoot — were so uniquely shaped.

“We use it for all animals, all birds, but not really snakes,” he said.

“We’re using them all the time, every day. The mask stretches but doesn’t tear.

“Rubber stretches but it tears, and when you have an angry cockatoo, they shred it very quickly.”

Currumbin Wildlife Hospital needs more wetsuits to use as anaesthetic masks for their oddly shaped animals. Vet nurse Stephanie Pilgrim with Jimmy the Barn Owl. Picture Mike Batterham

He said veterinary staff used the wetsuit material because it was stretchy and strong enough for the job.

Dr Pyne said in surgery, the material — neoprene — was placed over the animal’s face and secured with a rubber band.

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But the hospital has recently depleted its stash of custom-made anaesthetic masks and is calling on the community to donate unused wetsuits.

“If anyone does have old wetsuits, if they could donate and bring them down to the wildlife hospital, that would be fantastic,” he said.

Dr Pyne said the hospital had been using the material for 10 years.