The Southern Ash Wildlife Sanctuary (SAWS) has been caring for koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) since 1995, many of them victims of Australia’s bush fires. Southern Ash Wildlife Sanctuary founder Colleen Wood spoke with Suite101’s Dawn Smith about the effects of the fires, as well as other ongoing threats to Victoria’s koalas.
Southern Ash Wildlife Sanctuary Cares for Wildlife Affected by Bush Fires
Following the Black Saturday fires of 2009, a picture of a koala (named Sam) taking bottled water from a firefighter was shared all over the world. That photo galvanized interest in the wildlife rescue and rehabilitation activities resulting from those devastating fires.
At Southern Ash Wildlife Sanctuary, Sam the Koala was one of the more than 100 animals, mainly koalas, taken in for treatment after the bush fires. For some of those animals the road to recovery is not over. Eighteen months after the fires a few of the more badly burned koalas are still in rehabilitation. These animals must remain in captivity until fur grows back on their feet and legs.
Australian Bush Fires Will Continue to Occur
Fire is a part of the natural cycle in the Australian bush. Lightning strikes ignite the trees and create their own weather pattern, which eventually culminates in heavy rains that put the fires out. Increasing human presence in what was traditionally forested land increases the chance of non–natural fires and more intense fires.
More human presence and less continuous forestland intensify the effects of the fires on local native wildlife. Efforts are underway to improve fire control in Australia where a unique carbon credit system is being implemented.
Climate Change and Habitat Fragmentation Challenge the Koalas of Victoria
While the Chlamydia virus has had significant effect on some koala populations in Australia, Wood has found that the geographically isolated Victoria population is under greater threat from climate change and habitat fragmentation. Genetic anomalies are being seen in animals isolated by habitat fragmentation, particularly the island populations along the coast of Victoria.
The effects of climate change on this iconic Australian species are more subtle. Koalas are dependent on eucalyptus species as a food and hydration source. The tannin and water content of the eucalyptus leaves is changing, with tannins increasing and water decreasing.
A growing number of koalas, particularly females who have the extra burden of nursing their young, are coming to Southern Ash Wildlife Sanctuary with compromised kidney function as a result of this alteration in their food source. The kidneys must process the increased tannins while the lower water content reduces the kidneys’ ability to flush the toxins out of the body.
Southern Ash Wildlife Sanctuary is an active member of Wildlife Rescue And Protection (WRAP) Incorporated, a network of licensed wildlife shelters and foster caregivers in Victoria. Southern Ash is working toward the construction of a purpose built wildlife rehabilitation center with a dedicated burn treatment hospital. Wood hopes that the legacy of Sam the Koala, who was eventually lost to the Chlamydia virus, will be better care for Australia's wild bush fire victims.
Dawn M. Smith - A vet nurse, Dawn has worked in wildlife rehabilitation and conservation around the world in addition to her veterinary hospital ...
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