7 March 2006
We assume that looking
after wildlife, specially orphaned wildlife is a joyful experience,
and I must say that in most instances it is, there is however times
when it is filled with sadness.
The initial time after
an animal is orphaned is extremely stressful not only for the animal,
but also for the person looking after that animal. You are aware
of the stress the animal is going through, you are checking for
injuries, even after the initial assessment, there are many symptoms
that may not show for days, even weeks.You do everything in your
power to lessen the stress, taking care not to disturb the animal
undue, making the transition period as easy as possible, still checking
that all is ok.
The first Pademelon
came in some weeks before the second. The first presented as the
second, all seemed fine. Orphaned, yes, but from first assessment
no physical damage done.
Indeed with the first
this was the case, the little female did well in care, after initial
shock and settling in time, she was out in the pen in her pouch,
making friends with other wallabies in care.
Seen in this image
3 weeks after arrival.
The second Pademelon arrived
a few weeks after the first. Mum died shortly after them both being
brought in to care. We are still uncertain as to what had happened
to mum, she was found sheltering under a verandah, the caller well
aware that she was dying, concerned for the joey in her pouch. Her
eyes were bleeding, flies were buzzing all around her, she had given
up her struggle.
Nature was kind, she died shortly
after arrival as the fly blow started to hatch.
Her
little 200 gram joey, a female, was obviously stressed, but seemed
unharmed by whatever had happened to mum. She was examined thoroughly,
and checked for any sign of fly blow, we could find none.We took
a deep breath, relieved that the joey had been removed from the
pouch before the fly blow hatched after mum's death.
The first 24 hours passed with
no indication of anything wrong, one tend to relax at that stage,
still checking, but feeling more secure, joey was feeding well,
all body functions natural, stressed, but no sign of what was to
come.
After the initial 24 hours,
her smell changed, her faecies changed, she became unusually distressed
scratching and tearing at her head, we knew something was terribly
wrong.
The smell told us straight away
what the problem was, the poor little thing had been fly blown deep
within the ear canals, possibly also through the nose. Even though
we had checked, and double checked, we had not found it in time.
Our effort to stop what was
happening inside her little body was in vain, she died just 29 hours
after her mum.
Our
first Pademelon seen here 6 weeks after arrival, with her friend
a Red Neck wallaby joey. We hope her time in care will be filled
with joy, not only for us able to care and watch her grow, but for
her as she develops in to a mature Pademelon, and takes her place
in the wild when the time comes for her release.
