Portable Intensive care unit helps save wildlife
Thanks to a sizable donation Wildlife Habitat has a mobile ICU that can deliver emergency care to injured animals
Imagine the shock that a young wallaby experiences when hit by a car. While traumatised, and in pain, their only hope is being picked up by a stranger and driven to a vet.
That trauma can be alleviated with the purchase of an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) by the Tropical Animal Rehabilitation Centre located at Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas.
Each year the Tropical Animal Rehabilitation Centre (TARC) provides rehabilitation and care for over 500 animals that are brought to the centre after being poisoned, attacked by dogs and cats, and victims of road accidents.
TARC is Douglas Shires’ very own wildlife hospital.
The ICU could not have been possible without the money raised at the 2021 Salsa Sorensen Association Golf Day which provided $2000 to the wildlife charity for the purchase of the unit.
The medical unit was considered a priority by the donor, the Salsa Sorensen Association. “[The ICU] we felt was a very worthy project to help small native Australian animals in the Douglas Shire,” Jenni Sorenson, Salsa Sorensen Association said.
How the ICU works
“The portable ICU allows for the provision of immediate triage care of injured wildlife. It is suitable for a range of native animals including birds, marsupials, joeys and reptiles. That critical care includes being able to medically control the temperature of the injured animal, providing pain relief and if required transporting it safely to Vet care,” Rabecca Lynch, Capta Groups Wildlife Manager said.
“Without controlling shock, an animal risks its organs shutting down as the body reacts by changing the flow of blood. The damage can be debilitating or fatal. It’s only with the support of the community and donors that such critical wildlife care can be provided,” Lynch added.
The 2022 Salsa Sorenson Fundraising Golf day is to be held again this year at Palmer Sea Reef Golf Course on Sunday 21st of August and will help raise funds for many Douglas Shire charities.
If you have an injured animal, bring it into care at TARC, located at Wildlife Habitat, or call 07 4099 3235 to speak with the team for further advice.