Wildlife encounters soar as animals explore Melbourne amid coronavirus outbreak
From frolicking dolphins to wandering wombats, Melbourne’s wildlife is taking advantage of quieter surrounds with fewer people out to disturb them. But not all of their adventures have ended well.
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Coronavirus lockdown in Melbourne has seen inquisitive wildlife come closer to town as less human interference encourages them to test the boundaries.
Exercising locals have brushed with some of the country’s most beautiful wild creatures – but their wandering is occasionally leading to awful consequences.
Wildlife Victoria rescuers last week picked up Gilbert the wombat joey who was found cold, wet and alone and with scratches by a jogger in an Ivanhoe park.
He is now in the care of a licensed wildlife carer with another joey friend of the same age to keep him company.
“Gilbert had some fur missing and some scratches, so it’s possible that he had been attacked by a dog,” chief executive Megan Davidson told Leader.
“A joey this age is still dependent on its mother, but perhaps his mother was killed.”
In Endeavour Hills, Wild Days Wildlife Shelter rescuers saved a young laughing kookaburra from the side of the road. It was found with an injury to its eye after it was hit by a car last week.
Founder Kay Taranto told Leader the cheerful fellow was released back into the wild after the group cleaned blood off his beak and feathers and nursed him back to health.
Ms Davidson said the Wildlife Victoria group had expected to see a decrease in kangaroo hits on the road due to lockdown but so far there was no change in the number of deceased roos being cleared from the asphalt.
“There’s been close to 100 calls over the past week,” she said.
“New residential estates in growth corridors including South Morang, Epping, Gisborne and Craigieburn also push kangaroos closer to Melbourne as they can’t move further out because there’s other animals inhabiting those spaces.”
“There’s fewer cars on the road due to lockdown, but maybe they’re driving faster.”
And the COVID-19 pandemic has had an effect on the cute flying fox – some Melburnians fear they carry the virus.
Ms Davidson said the group also experienced a large volume of calls from people who had become fearful of bats near their property.
“The good news is that there is absolutely no evidence that any wildlife in Australia carries the virus,” the group announced on social media.
“While early evidence suggests bats from a wildlife market in china may be connected to the initial outbreak, the bats we have here are a different species to those found in China.”
Wildlife Victoria rescue reports show – after kangaroos – ringtail possums, ducks and magpies need the most help with the majority of them attacked by domestic dogs.
“People are staying home so there’s more space for animals to move around but there’s more people out there than ever exercising with their dogs,” Ms Davidson said.
“Attacks on wildlife by dogs off lead is a major problem in Victoria … we received 38 reports of wildlife attacked by dogs in March alone.
“Owners need to be responsible, because if a dog isn’t on a leash, it will be a dog … it can’t help itself.
“Responsible dog owners should always keep their dog on a lead when out walking, except in designated “off lead” areas to protect our wildlife.”
But it’s not all bad news.
In Mordialloc, foreshore walkers have reported seeing more dolphins frolicking along the bay after boating and recreational fishing was banned, including Lisa who snapped a photo of a friendly pod which joined her as she exercised last week.
To report an injured animal, fill out Wildlife Victoria’s emergency form at wildlifevictoria.org.au or phone Wild Days Wildlife Shelter on 0408 023 216.
brittany.goldsmith@news.com.au
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