IFAW supports animal rescue in Queensland following Tropical Cyclone Jasper

4 January 2024

After Cyclone Jasper hit Queensland last month, wildlife continues to be impacted by relentless severe weather events now striking the southeast of the state.

As a result of this extreme weather, widespread damage to wildlife enclosures has occurred, and flooding has hindered wildlife rescue efforts. Wildlife rescuers are rushed off their feet responding to an influx of baby birds needing to be rescued from strong winds and fallen trees, and, in some cases, wildlife groups are having to make up to five trips a day to wildlife hospitals due to the sheer number of animals rescued.

IFAW has been working with several local wildlife rescue organisations by supporting rescue and transport expenses and providing vital supplies and food for rescued animals. We would like to thank these groups and their volunteers for their tireless work to help affected wildlife, and we will continue to provide support where possible.

20 December 2023

This week, Category 2 Tropical Cyclone Jasper made landfall in far north Queensland. Widespread flooding and damage resulted, with communities evacuated or isolated. Rescue efforts continue for those isolated communities.

Despite the region facing a cyclone every two years, the slow-moving nature of this storm defied expectations and wreaked havoc. Some areas experienced over two metres of flooding over one week, which is more than they typically see in the entire year. This is the worst flooding the region has faced in decades. 

Wildlife has also been seriously impacted. IFAW is supporting two local wildlife rescue organisations in Cairns, providing funds for macropod supplies (including milk formula, syringes, and teats for bottle-feeding joeys), bird food, and fuel for rescuers. 

The two rescue teams are cooperating with each other, sharing resources where they can, and transferring animals between carers. They reported 26 joeys in their care and 17 adult kangaroos going through triage. Countless birds are also in their care. Sadly, they also had to perform 83 euthanasias of macropods. 

One of their pre-release sites, which contained enclosures and supplies for joeys, possums, and sugar gliders, went underwater and was completely destroyed, leaving the carers with only two remaining sites. One site is cut off by floodwaters, and the other is currently accessible to them, but it requires some repairs. 

With floodwaters now receding, IFAW continues to be in close contact with the rescue teams on the ground and remain on standby to provide further assistance if needed.