It is
not often something comes out of a bushfire alive, this little Swamp
wallaby managed to do just that with the help of the local Nimbin
and Channon Bushfire Brigade. We received a call that they had found
a small joey, could we please come and collect it.
The trip
to the fire was an experience to say the least, driving through
the bush heading towards a fire is not exactly what I would call
a normal rescue, but we felt safe in the fact that the fire brigade
would not have asked were we not completely safe. When we arrived
at the fire it was a sight to remember, the burnt out bush all around
us, " Peter" the fireman
looking very tired and covered in ash his helmet slightly askew,
one eye closed against the smoke his face covered in soot he asked
how we had managed to find them, his smile was something to behold
as he reached into the fire truck and gently brought out the small
joey wrapped in his red jumper.
The
joey weighed 537 grams, he was found lying in a small gully, the
fire had passed over him. Mum would possibly have dropped him in
her haste to outrun the fire. Let's hope she made it. Amazingly
enough "Pete" as we named this little joey, had no actual
burns, his eyes were damaged due to ash burn and the Vet from Lismore veterinary clinic explained
to us that what he had was Corneal ulcers in both eyes but his sight
should be 100% in time. As he is still small and will spend some
months yet in his pouch, he will have plenty of time to regain both
his strength and sight.
Dehydration
was also a problem so he was re hydrated and cleaned of the black
soot covering him all over. He will have quite a few trips to the
vet in the next few weeks, but already he has shown he has the zest
for life that is required of such a small animal orphaned, and fighting
his way back to the wild.
Bushfires
are something that Australia experiences on a regular basis, it
is unfortunate that many are deliberately lit. Also a cigarette
dropped out the car window, even a spark from jumper-leads
can light an unstoppable fire in the right conditions. It is up
to each individual when in the bush to think before acting.
The Bushfire
Brigade is made up of mainly volunteers, people just like you and
I and they go out to a fire, burning sometimes in almost 
inaccessible
terrain risking their lives to save ours and our properties. They
work in unbelievable heat for hours on end, have a restless sleep
due to being overheated in the fire, then back again, till it is
finally put out or brought under control. This can all take days
or sometimes even weeks. I have spoken to a few of these amazing
people, none speak like they are heroes, they do this work as a
matter of fact, it has to be done, someone has to do it, it is nothing
special. I do not think they realize just how special they all are.
The pictures
here show Pete as he has progressed whilst in care.
He will
be here for a while yet untill he is released with his adopted family
group.
UPDATE
Pete
was released at the age of 15 months with his friends.
