‘Starvation event’ taken to new level
DROUGHT is devastating Gold Coast wildlife with many species on the brink of starvation – and it’s being exacerbated by bushfires.
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary senior veterinarian Dr Michael Pyne said flying foxes were already in starvation mode, while koalas – particularly older, weaker ones – were being admitted to the sanctuary hospital, struggling from lack of food in the dry conditions.
Wildlife Queensland vicepresident Sharon Quinlan warned local wildlife was in the throes of an “absolutely devastating starvation event” aggravated by wildfires.
Wildcare Australia is warning motorists koalas, kangaroos and wallabies are on the move as they search for food and water sources.
“Please put bowls of water out around your backyards and properties. Your local wildlife will be most grateful. They are doing it tough out there,” a Wildcare Australia Inc statement said.
Ms Quinlan added: “There is also virtually no feed out there for birds and at this time of the year, echidnas are coming out from underground and looking for food for their babies, but there’s just no food.
“Sadly, animals like echidnas and wombats, who survived the bushfires by hiding underground, are still starving. They were starving before the fires.”
Ms Quinlan said a significant number of flying foxes were being rescued daily in bushfire areas and from where they had escaped to other parts of the city.
She said the grey-haired flying fox was already a vulnerable species.
“These bats are starving. Please leave some of the fruit on your trees for them and be patient if they come in lower than usual to get food.”
Dr Pyne said the wildlife hospital was admitting 10 emaciated or dehydrated flying foxes every day.
“I’ve never seen anything like this. Flying foxes are suffering the most, there really is no food for them,” he said, adding they were vital for the ecosystem and survival of koalas.
“Flying foxes pollinate our eucalyptus trees, so no bats, no eucalyptus forests, no koalas.”
Dr Pyne said koalas were already struggling before the fires.
“There is not a lot of fresh growth on our eucalyptus trees. We’re seeing a number of koalas not as young or as strong that are on the edge,” he said.
“They’re unwell and are not coping with limited food.
“My concern is the conditions that caused the fires are widespread and they’re causing big issues for our wildlife.”
The heartbreaking photo of a singed koala mum who shielded her joey as fire tore through bushland in Sarabah has gone viral after it was posted. Police rescued the pair, taking them to the RSPCA Wildlife Hospital.
Wildlife Preservation Society Gold Coast branch president Sally Spain said the fires gave strength to petitions just lodged with the council to improve its environmental protection arm.
Helensvale-based councillor William Owen-Jones presented the petitions at the full council meeting on August 15.
The first calls for reinstatement of the Environmental Advisory Committee, banished after the 2004 elections.
Sue Hickson, on a property bordering Nerang State Forest for 20 years, said until this week she had never seen a koala in her yard.
“You could tell he was on the hunt for food or water,” she said. “We were so surprised to see him just walking along the grass. We’ve had every animal in the yard, but never a koala.
“Koalas must be getting pretty desperate.”