THE causeway between Shepparton and Mooroopna has become an island of refuge for wallabies and kangaroos fleeing the devastating floods that have engulfed their home in the bush.
Joining the terrified and exhausted animals are turtles and an abundance of snakes.
With the bitumen ‘bubbling’ up, Sue Kirwan from Help for Wildlife has travelled from Melbourne to help staff from Bohollow Wildlife Shelter in Bunbartha to rescue the distressed macropods.
Incredulous at sightseers who are still crossing the causeway, Sue said,
“There is a group of about eight kangaroos and wallabies on the bridge, and some have been seriously injured by cars. We’ve had to use darts to assist some and have had to euthanise others.
“The animals are highly stressed and when cars speed by or people try to take photos of them up close, they get even more frightened. One mother’s joey drowned in her pouch when she was terrified back into the water.”
With the havoc that sightseers are having on the distraught animals, Sue advises the public to keep their distance from the displaced kangaroos and wallabies as they can cause serious harm to onlookers when frenzied.
Acknowledging the incredible work done by the volunteers at Bohollow Wildlife Shelter in Bunbartha, Sue suggested that people who would like to assist the wildlife recovery effort should head to WB Hunters or AIRR to purchase feed stock for the shelter.
“Bohollow Wildlife Shelter covers such a wide area, and the volunteers do such an amazing job.
“With the flood waters rising, the best support people can give is to buy feed, then at least, you know your money will go straight to the carers,” Sue said.
