Wildlife rescuers prepare to treat ‘hundreds’ of burnt animals at Plenty Gorge
Wildlife volunteers preparing to go into the fire-ravaged Plenty Gorge Parklands predict a huge animal death toll and believe hundreds more are suffering from severe burns. Frightened kangaroos and foxes have been roaming the surrounding streets.
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Wildlife rescuers across Melbourne’s north are preparing to treat hundreds of scorched animals as an out-of-control grass fire continues to rip through Plenty Gorge Parklands.
Help for Wildlife founder and volunteer Sue Kirwan said 1000 animals could already be lying dead on the fire-ravaged grounds.
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Ms Kirwan said her team was bracing for a “mammoth task” ahead.
“The Plenty Gorge Parklands are very heavily occupied by wildlife,” she said.
“We aren’t allowed in yet as the fire is still out-of-control in some pockets, but every day we are noticing kangaroos and wallabies on the fire’s fringe with scorched feet.
“They’re displaced and traumatised and coming into the suburban areas — many are taking refuge in vacant blocks of land.
“But the longer this fire burns, the more animals that will die and the less chance of survival for those which are still alive in Plenty Gorge.”
Maxine Holmes’ Greensborough property neighbours the scorched parklands, and she said dozens of frightened kangaroos and foxes were roaming the surrounding streets.
“They’re so traumatised half of them don’t know what they’re doing or where they’re going,” she said.
“Even the ring tail possums and bats are confused — they’re moving about during the day which isn’t usual for them.
“It’s an eerie scene out here, like something out of a nightmare.”
Ms Kirwan said koalas would be the “worst-hit”.
“They’re up in the trees and would have no where to go, but kangaroos are panic animals so will move around and that’s why a lot of them are suffering from burnt feet,” she said.
“If left untreated they will get infected, the infection will then travel through their system until they become too emaciated and will need to be euthanised.”
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Wildlife Rescuers volunteer Rose Bradford also said many animals were suffering from smoke inhalation.
She advised residents not to approach distressed wildlife.
“They have already been traumatised and we don’t want to risk spooking them back into dangerous fire grounds,” she said.
“If you’re living nearby make sure your dogs are on a leash and leaving out bowls of waters on your front lawns could do wonders for struggling animals.”
The fire, which started on Monday and forced Bundoora, Mill Park and Greensborough residents to evacuate their homes, is being investigated by Whittlesea CIU detectives.
Anyone who sees an animal in distress should phone Help for Wildlife, Wildlife Victoria or Wildlife Rescuers on 0417 506 941.