ifaw emergency action to assist flood-affected wildlife

After multiple days of severe weather, heavy rains, and floods, thousands of New South Wales residents from the Greater Sydney region and the Hunter region are still affected by flooding. Rain continues to impact Sydney today, with more heavy rain predicted next week

Rescuers and wildlife groups are starting to see an influx of displaced, injured, and orphaned wildlife in particular burrowing animals such as wombats as they are forced out of their homes which are filled with floodwaters and mud, leaving them displaced and exposed to dangers. The RSPCA, AWL NSW, AVA, and VBB are activated and on standby to provide support to companion and farm animals.

Our ifaw team continues to carry out needs assessments in impacted areas and is in contact with key wildlife groups and government departments to ensure assistance is provided where needed. At the moment we are on standby to support Hunter Wildlife Rescue group and their carers that are located in the Newcastle and Hunter Region, who have been heavily impacted by the severe weather.

If you live or are travelling in New South Wales, please download the free ifaw Wildlife Rescue App, which connects users with the nearest wildlife rescue group should they come across injured or displaced wildlife. 

For more information on how to help flood affected wildlife and a list of helpful contact numbers, click here.

We will continue to keep this page updated with news.

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4 July 2022

NSW devastated by severe weather and flooding again

Devastating winds and rains are causing flooding in parts of New South Wales once again and, as always, our thoughts are with all the people and animals impacted. The dangerous weather system is expected to continue over the next few days with people in flood prone areas urged monitor weather reports and the authorities advice, and to be prepared and have evacuation plans in place, which include the animals in their care.

We are carrying out urgent needs assessments in impacted areas and are in contact with key government departments to ensure assistance is provided where it is needed. The full extent of the impact on our wildlife won’t be known for weeks after the floodwaters subside but we’re expecting to see an influx of displaced, injured, and orphaned wildlife. Burrowing animals such as wombats and echidnas are expected to be the most heavily impacted as their homes are filled with floodwaters and mud.

In some areas, this is the fourth flood in 18 months. We are seeing how climate change is increasing the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events like this. The impacts have been relentless for communities and our wildlife. The survival of many species, including our own, depends on urgent and concerted action to address the impacts of climate change.

5 April 2022

Flood survivor joey now in safe hands

Wildlife has been severely affected by the recent extreme weather. Tiny kangaroo joey, Alya, is just one victim of this. Alya’s mother found her home being engulfed by deep, fast-flowing floodwaters and had to frantically search for a safe place to shelter with her joey. She ended up, lost and confused, in a suburban street and was sadly hit by a car and did not survive. Luckily, her pouch was checked and little Alya was discovered uninjured but suffering from pneumonia.

Through the generosity of our supporters, we were able to provide Wildlife Rescue Sunshine Coast with the heat pads and heartbeat simulators that are critical for Alya’s survival and recovery. This tiny fighter is receiving expert care from her dedicated carer and is expected to survive and grow into a healthy kangaroo.

For more information on how to help flood affected wildlife and a list of helpful contact numbers, click here.

31 March 2022

Collaborating with The Rescue Collective

We have recently joined forces with The Rescue Collective in Queensland to source and distribute food for wildlife carers impacted by the floods. The IFAW team joined The Rescue Collective last week during the sorting, packing, and distributing of some of these supplies and met with wildlife carers in affected areas supported through this collaboration. 

We will continue to keep this page updated with news.

For more information on how to help flood affected wildlife and a list of helpful contact numbers, click here.

30 March 2022

ifaw in action across NSW and QLD

QLD and the east coast of NSW have, once again, been heavily impacted by more rain and floods. 

NSW: Several weather warnings are currently in place, including major flooding warnings across NSW Northern Rivers and Western Downs and South East QLD. Lismore CBD had to evacuate for a second time as the town faces another flooding crisis.

QLD: A severe weather pattern is now moving to NSW Mid North Coast. Two lives were lost in the heavy rains.

We remain in contact with our partners, wildlife groups and carers to provide further support and assistance to those affected by the floods and rain.

Current ifaw actions:

• Wildcare Inc SEQ (QLD) - IFAW is granting an Emergency Grant to support carers whose rehabilitation setup and supplies were lost or damaged by the floods water and strong winds.  
• The Rescue Collective (QLD): Collaborating with The Rescue Collective to source and distribute food for wildlife in care by carers impacted by the floods in QLD. IFAW responders joined The Rescue Collective team at the weekend to assist with the organising, packing and distribution of these supplies.
• Hunter Wildlife (NSW): Provided a generator, water pump, medical supplies and koala supplements.
• Jarake Wildlife (NSW): Provided supplies, fuel and wombat cage 
• Australian Seabird and Turtle Rescue, South Coast (NSW): The team has been rescuing an unusually high number of animals, especially turtles. IFAW is providing two seawater tanks. 
• Friends of the Koala (NSW): Providing support to purchase a backup generator to assist with this flood and future emergencies. We are also supporting the ongoing wellbeing of staff and volunteers through our Caring for Carers initiative (alongside NSW Gov and WWF).  
• Queensland Koala Society Inc (QLD): IFAW is granting an Emergency Grant for supplies and equipment to support koala care and rehab. In collaboration with The Rescue Collective, we will be attending a Working Bee on the property damaged by the floods. 
• Wildlife Rescue Sunshine Coast (QLD): Assisting with food, supplements, heat pads, heartbeat stimulators and portable cots for wildlife in care. 
• Bangalow Koalas (NSW): IFAW is granting an Emergency Grant to assist with the flood clean-up and recovery efforts alongside landholders, community, tree nursery and plantings. We are looking to join Bangalow Koalas on the ground in coming weeks to help with these efforts. 
• Lockyer Valley Regional Council has sent contact details of local wildlife carers that need support. We are working alongside The Rescue Collective team to meet food needs though the food for wildlife mission supported by IFAW. 
• We are also providing support to individual wildlife carers impacted by the floods and helping with recovery efforts and supplies to enable the rescuing and rehabilitating of wildlife. 
  

ifaw partner updates

21 March 2022 

Several flood warnings are still in effect for NSW and QLD. Even though the rain pattern is decreasing, there are still areas being hit by storms and flash flooding. The Bureau of Meteorology has predicted a strong likelihood south-east Queensland and the entire coast of NSW will experience a wetter than normal Autumn.

There have been thousands of properties and businesses across the south-east QLD region and NSW east coast inundated by floodwaters and people are still isolated from their homes. A huge clean-up effort continues across Lismore, Ballina and SEQ, Hunter Valley and other highly impacted flood areas as waters continue to recede.

Our partners at Friends of the Koala are still managing to cope as the team returns back to the center now the floodwaters have receded and roads are clear for use. Flood survivor, koala joey Gulliver, is also doing very well!

Our partners at Bangalow Koalas and the Great Eastern Ranges who are working with landowners and regional alliances (across NSW and QLD) continue to assess damage to property and areas of the wildlife corridor plantings, and plan cleanup and future recovery efforts.

11 March 2022 

flood survivor koala joey, Gulliver, in care at Friends of the Koala

We are relieved to report that our partners in flood impacted areas, particularly in the Northern Rivers region of NSW are safe, although many of them have suffered personal property loss and heartbreak, including many of the landowners who have been part of wildlife corridor planting efforts. We are very pleased to report the Friends of the Koala hospital and rescue centre was spared the floodwaters and all the animals in care are safe and being cared for by a core team of wonderful volunteers who were able to access the centre even during the height of the floodwaters.

One of the koalas affected by the floods was Gulliver, a koala joey who was found walking on the ground alone amid the torrential downpours, calling for his mum, who sadly couldn’t be found. The Friends of the Koala team rescued him and gave him a thorough health check. He is now safe under the expert care of the IFAW-sponsored vet team and will remain there until he is old enough to be released back to the wild.