Population growth, increased traffic, habitat destruction and domestic pets like dogs and cats have had an enormous negative impact on our native animals in the modern world. Australia has the disgraceful title of having the world’s worst extinction rate of mammals since European settlement. Terribly sad news given the uniqueness of our amazing fauna.
Jenna from Daintree Wonder Tours is a volunteer wildlife carer and spends many hours rehabilitating orphaned or sick animals. It is a tough job (stressful, sleep deprivation, dealing with sick wallabies, anxiety from wondering if they’ll survive each night etc) but it is also an immense privilege. To know that an animal has been given a second chance and see it returned back to the wild is extremely rewarding and the driving force behind why carers do what they do.
If you are keen to get involved, there are many organisations around Australia that do wildlife rescue and rehab. You need to have a permit to have wallabies or other native animals in care and joining a registered organisation and doing their courses will give you this. The main thing you always have to remember is that you are doing the job for the animals NOT for yourself. Everything has to come back to the idea that you are rehabilitating them for life back in the wild.
Also, if you are travelling around Australia remember to check the pouches of any marsupials (eg possums, bandicoots, wallabies, kangas, bettongs, quolls, wombats, koalas) you find on the road!!! Call your local group immediately if you find something!