High wire act

This year marks twenty-one years since the local Wildlife Information Rescue and Education Service (WIRES) was founded. During this time, hundreds of volunteers have generously given their time and money to care for injured and orphaned wildlife. Ford Kristo paid them a visit.

Every day of the week, but especially in holiday season, Australian wildlife is subjected to unintentional or deliberate harm. Cruel or indifferent people, or hazards like vehicles, trains, barbed wire, powerlines, domestic dogs and cats, bushfires, fireplace chimneys and even discarded soft drink cans and plastic packaging frequently injure or make orphans of native fauna.  WIRES fills the gap that government agencies and the RSPCA are not equipped or trained to deal with. The hapless victims of contact with human society are nurtured back to life by a dedicated band of volunteers, so they can be released back into the bush.

They deal with some heart-rending cases.  A baby wombat that was recently orphaned by acts of extreme, mindless cruelty to its mother and a number of other wombats, is being cared for by a woman of extraordinary kindness. Ironically, while the people charged with offences of cruelty against these harmless wild creatures face possible imprisonment, freedom is on the horizon for the young wombat, who will be released back into the bush when his strength and health is regained.

Every wildlife rehabilitation story has a common theme of people with immense capacity for selfless dedication to animal welfare and wildlife conservation.

Jocelyn Vettoretti is a possum specialist. She joined WIRES when she moved to Mittagong ten years ago, and she turned over the guest bedroom in her house to provide accommodation for rather unusual visitors. It’s full of large plastic boxes with bags that serve as artificial pouches for possums of varying ages. Hundreds of possums including Ringtails, Brushtails, Greater Gliders and Eastern Pygmy-possums have benefited from her hospitality. Her newest guest is a young Greater Glider (see photo). It’s mother had to be euthanased due to the dreadful injuries she sustained in a barbed-wire fence entanglement locally. Jocelyn doesn’t mind getting up at 5.30am to feed animals in her care. “It’s the satisfaction of seeing animals get back into their habitat. I think human beings have a lot to answer for in the way they have destroyed wildlife habitat and damaged the world in general,” she says.

Gaylene Parker of Wingello has been at WIRES since it started locally, and may be the foremost specialist in wombat rehabilitation in the country. She’s remarkable, operating on an ‘industrial scale’. While one wombat is a handful for an average carer, Gaylene bottle-feeds twelve to fifteen a year. The maximum number she has had in care was thirty-two wombats needing bottle-feeding and another twelve adults. Throw in the occasional koala, frequent information requests from scientific researchers, writers and documentary-makers and her contribution to wildlife conservation is significant. Gaylene finds it very rewarding. “Some of them have been through the horrors but they still go on. They won’t trust you straight away. They make you work for the privilege of caring for them, which I think is good. It’s very alien to them and to see them get through it all is amazing”.

There are humorous times too. Once a policeman had seized an adult Koala at risk of being run over and placed it in his car. When the disoriented animal regained its wits, it became a raging ball of fur, teeth and claws, preventing the officer from getting back into his vehicle. Following a call to WIRES, Gaylene rescued the officer by capturing the rampaging Koala.

Down in Kangaroo Valley lives Helen George, one of the founders of WIRES nationally, and a legendary authority in wildlife rehabilitiation. When YourTimes rang to arrange an interview, she was conducting a training course on kangaroo, wallaby and wombat care. She has been awarded an OAM, and other distinctions for her services to conservation and wildlife. A trained nurse, Helen has rehabilitated and released thousands of animals during her forty-five years as a carer. At the age of seventy, her wealth of experience has given her a “big picture” perspective on wildlife rehabilitation. Helen has built up a massive body of data on wildlife biology and uses a very scientific, pragmatic approach in her work.

A number of highly experienced members have recently left WIRES and the loss of their enthusiasm and considerable knowledge is lamentable.

WIRES is keen to hear from people who wish to be trained as carers or can assist with the administration tasks that keep the organisation running. Contact them on 48621788.