Ideal team for responding to a wildlife disaster
- Conservation biologist with knowledge of the species in question and ability to handle them
- Experienced wildlife veterinarian
- Wildlife Rehab organisation representative
- Spokesperson
- Fire supervisor
Ideal search team
- Rural fire brigade member
- Experienced handler
- Veterinarian/nurse
What is triage?
The assignment of degrees of urgency to wounds or illnesses to decide the order of treatment of a large number of patients or casualties
Triage requirements
- Triage centre
- Transporters (people)
- Support for search teams (food, water
Treatment/Rehabilitation Centre Needs
- Housing
- Volunteers (skilled and unskilled)
- Food for animals
- Medial supplies for animals
- Clean up area
- Record keeping system
Treatment/Rehabilitation Centre Needs: Staff support needs
- Supervisor with authority
- Veterinarian and nurses to assess and treat animals
- Training
- Food
- Water
- Counselling?
Initial care for burnt koalas
- Treat for shock - Fluids
- Pain relief
- Antibiotics
- Kilojoules
Basic elements of burn care
- Peracute – cool the burn
- Subacute to chronic - debride the burn (remove necrotic tissue and prevent infection)
- Topical treatment of the burn
- Bandaging the wound
- Generalised care of the patient
- Monitor and assess (behaviour, weight faecal production, the burn itself)
- Keep records
Elements for a successful release
• Rehabilitation
• Selecting appropriate site
- Appropriate habitat
- Other animals (genetic considerations, conflict)
• Soft (gradual return) or hard (direct return) release
• Post release monitoring
• Measure of success
What is a Raptor?
Birds of prey
• Hawks, falcons, eagles
• Owls
Factors that impact successful repair of a fractured bone
- Which bone has been broken
- Location of fracture
- Nature of the fracture (how many pieces)
- Number of fractures
- Surrounding soft tissue injuries
- Injuries to other organs
