Miracle of life: Meet the woman saving our wombats
CAROL SEEGER’S ROOTS LIE DEEP IN VICTORIA’S DANDENONG RANGES – AND FOR THE PAST 31 YEARS, SHE HAS BEEN RESCUING THE REGION’S NATIVE ANIMALS.
WHEN AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR fell down her chimney three decades ago, it changed Carol Seeger’s life. It wasn’t Santa Claus – instead, it was a ringtail possum. “I found a rescue group to help me, and told the lady there that I’d like to get into rescue myself,” Carol says. “And she said, ‘This can be your first one.’”
Always an animal lover, Carol knew right then that she’d found her life’s work, though space was limited at her house. But when Carol, now 70, and her husband Mark, 63, moved 20 years ago to a 22-hectare property in nearby Kallista, the Emerald Monbulk Wildlife Shelter really took off. At any one time, Carol is looking after kangaroos (she has about 20 at the moment), wombats, possums, wallabies and countless birds sent her way by the RSPCA. Plus, of course, her two pet alpacas, Cisco and Geldof.
“I used to have dogs and cats, but I don’t anymore, because I have a lot of birds that I hand-rear, and they’re around the house a lot looking for food,” Carol says. “I love dogs, but I just can’t have one while I’m doing this.”
Despite that drawback, she’ll be doing it for quite some time to come. “I was going to give it away at 60 and I’m still doing it!” Carol laughs. “I can’t see myself stopping now.”
But it’s no easy task. Every day, Carol is up early to feed the animals with her trusty team of 15 volunteers (although pandemic restrictions now mean only one volunteer can work). First, she feeds the animals inside the house – the babies and smaller creatures – then she heads outside to the possum run and the aviaries, feeding, watering and cleaning out. After that, she’s on the phone, heading out to rescue animals or picking them up from the local vet. Her volunteers help with the afternoon feeds.
“Then I’ve got the night feeds. I don’t get much sleep – but that’s typical for wildlife carers,” she says.
Most roos and wombats find their way to her after being hit by cars (even if a mother is dead, there may be a joey she can save in the mother’s pouch), chased by dogs or stuck in fencing. “But 90 per cent of it is cars. You didn’t have the roadkill when I started, but all their habitat’s going with development,” Carol notes. “They’re getting pushed into smaller and smaller areas and they get hit by cars all the time.”
Her aim is always to release animals back into the wild. “To see an animal that’s come in really small and be able to release it is the best,” Carol says. “I’m never sad at >
“To see an animal that’s come in really small and be able to release it [back into the wild] is the best.”
“If you do hit an animal, please check it, check the pouch and ring the local vet for a wildlife carer’s number.”
seeing them go – I’m happy they’ve got to that stage and they’ve got freedom again.”
The worst moments come when she goes out to rescue an animal. “So many people hit an animal and don’t stop, and leave it on the side of the road, injured. It’s heartbreaking!”
It’s a simple matter, she says, to call someone. “If you do hit an animal, please check it, check the pouch and ring the local vet for a wildlife carer’s number. If you can’t wait till someone arrives, put a marker on a nearby tree, so people can easily find the animal.”
Carol isn’t the first in her family to drive these roads. “My great-great-grandfather used to have Clark’s coach run that took people from Ferntree Gully Station up the hills,” she says. “My family have always lived up [in] the hills. One even lived in a bark hut in Tacoma with a dirt floor!”
Christmas might look different for the Seegers this year – Carol suspects she won’t be able to travel to go camping with her family – but she’ll always have her animals. Instead of buying gifts this year, consider making a donation on behalf of your loved ones to support Carol’s work at facebook.com/emeraldmonbulkwildlifeshelter