Currumbin Wildlife Hospital launches appeal to care for injured animals including Laura Leaf
As Tropical Cyclone Alfred tracked towards the Gold Coast, Currumbin Wildlife Hospital faced the challenge of caring for vulnerable native wildlife in the storm’s wake, going above and beyond to ensure their survival in the face of impending chaos.
As we sat impatiently waiting for Tropical Cyclone Alfred to make an appearance, the team at Currumbin Wildlife Hospital worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure vulnerable, native wildlife continued to receive lifesaving care. Animals like Laura Leaf, the little koala who underwent emergency abdominal surgery on Wednesday, just hours before we felt the full force of Alfred. With the hospital preparing to close, Laura Leaf would not have made it without round-the-clock care. And so, nursing supervisor Mallory Wilson transformed her spare bedroom into a makeshift Intensive Care Unit.
“When you work in wildlife medicine, you do whatever it takes,” said Dr Michael Pyne, senior veterinarian.
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After weathering the worst of the storm, Currumbin Wildlife Hospital re-opened on Saturday, immediately admitting 56 new patients – including birds, possums and other animals injured or displaced by the cyclone, with that number expected to surge as people continue to assess the damage and discover more injured wildlife.
While the clean-up of our city has just begun, Currumbin Wildlife Hospital has launched a Cyclone Appeal to help fund the emergency care required in the aftermath of Cyclone Alfred. Donations will go directly towards treating and rehabilitating displaced and injured wildlife. Every dollar can make a difference. If you would like to donate, head over to Currumbin Wildlife Hospital’s appeal. Oh, and just in case you were hoping to visit in person, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is currently closed. Keep an eye on the website for updates on reopening.
Image credit: Currumbin Wildlife Hospital