Our Community
Wildlife Emergencies
At Gold Coast Vet Surgery we assess and treat all birds and wildlife for free. This is part of our community service and it is a pleasure to be able to provide this service. Wherever possible we strive to release wildlife back into their local territory but if their injuries or illness means that they need an extended stay or more specific wildlife knowledge and expertise then we work with organisations such as Currumbin Wildlife Hospital, the RSPCA & registered wildlife carers to treat & rehabilitate all cases that can be potentially released back into the wild.
Please do NOT attempt to handle snakes, bats, adult koalas or adult kangaroos and wallabies as they can cause serious injury.
Advice
If you find stranded or injured wildlife, please phone us first for advice. If this is not practical, catch the animal – either in a cardboard box or wrapped in a towel and bring it in to the surgery. Here the vet will assess any injuries and decide on the best course of action.
For baby birds, wherever possible please do not intervene. Often the parents are nearby and will shelter and care for the baby, but any human contact is likely to cause them to abandon their babies.
However, if they have become stranded and are being attacked by other birds then it will be necessary for you to intervene and bring them in for assessment and possibly a professional carer.
What to do
If you cannot catch the bird or animal then you can contact the RSPCA on 1300 ANIMAL. The RSPCA Ambulance may be able to assist with capturing injured wildlife.
Alternatively you can contact Wildcare on their HOTLINE on (07) 5527 2444.
For any injured Swans or Pelicans, and any bird that is hooked or entangled in fishing line you can call Rowley from Wild Bird Rescues on 0438 823 100 6am – 9pm 7 days a week.
Wildlife can also be taken directly to the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital at 27 Millers Drive, Currumbin, QLD, 4223. Tel: (07) 5534 0813. It is open 8am – 5:00pm every day of the year, except Christmas Day.
Organizations
We work closely with wildlife carers from organizations such as Wild Bird Rescues Gold Coast, Wildcare, the RSPCA, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary Wildlife Hospital, Bat Rescue, the Australian Bat Clinic & Wildlife Trauma Centre and Seaworld, as well as several very committed private bird and reptile carers. We thank them all for the tremendous dedication and voluntary work. Without this extended network we would seldom be able to rehabilitate wildlife brought to us for care.
Sadly many injuries mean that the bird or animal concerned has very little prospect of being rehabilitated to a point where it can be released into the wild to fend for itself again. In such cases we may sometimes decide that euthanasing the animal is the most humane option to end it’s pain and suffering. This, however, will only be considered as a last resort.
Call us if you cannot find an available appointment online. Same day appointments are always made for critically ill animals.