Home Sick & Injured Wildlife

What to Do If You Find Sick, Injured or Orphaned Wildlife

Get Urgent Help During and Outside Hospital Hours

If you need assistance or advice with an injured animal during business hours please contact Currumbin Wildlife Hospital on (07) 55340813.

Out of business hours – if in Queensland – please contact Wildcare on (07) 5527 2444, if in NSW – please contact Tweed Valley Wildlife Carers on (02) 6672 4789.

If you need assistance capturing or transporting an injured animal, or if it is after 5pm or before 8am, please contact Wildcare’s 24/7 line for assistance.

Please do not touch Bats, Snakes, Adult Koalas, Adult Kangaroos, Wallabies, Birds of Prey, Lace Monitors or any other dangerous animals. Read on for some quick tips on rescuing wildlife.

Get Help with Non-Urgent Wildlife Concerns

Quick Tips for Wildlife Rescue

Wherever possible, always seek advice prior to rescuing a native animal.
All native animals rescued will need either urgent veterinary attention or assessment by an experienced registered wildlife carer, please contact one of the organisations above for advice if you have rescued a wild animal.

Table of Contents

Waterbirds & turtles

Birds

Koalas

Bats

Snakes

Kangaroos & Wallabies

Wildlife You Should Avoid Handling

Please do not touch Bats, Snakes, Adult Koalas, Adult Kangaroos, Wallabies, Birds of Prey, Lace Monitors or any other dangerous animals.

Get Advice from Your Local Wildlife Rescue

Wherever possible, always seek advice prior to rescuing a native animal.
Please contact one of the organisations below for advice if you have rescued a wild animal.
If you find a deceased Kangaroo, Wallaby, Possum or Koala, make sure you check the pouch (if safe to do so).

What Happens Next

All native animals rescued will need either urgent veterinary attention or assessment by an experienced registered wildlife carer.

Baby echidna held by a person in a green uniform, wrapped in a patterned towel.

Reuniting baby birds during the spring

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Imperdiet viverra consectetur mi eget sit interdum semper nisi integer. Sit blandit

Small, black turtles swim among green leaves and rocks in a clear aquarium.

Waterbirds & turtles

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in. 

Voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in. 

Voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Birds

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in. 

Voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in. 

Voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Veterinarians administer fluids to a black kite in a veterinary clinic.

Small koala joey being held by a person in medical scrubs.

Koalas

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in. 

Voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in. 

Voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Bats

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in. 

Voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in. 

Voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Two bats hanging upside down from a wire mesh ceiling, with an antique oil lamp attached to a wooden beam.

Close-up of a brown and black patterned snake with a visible head and part of its body.

Snakes

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in. 

Voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in. 

Voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Kangaroos & Wallabies

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in. 

Voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in. 

Voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Two kangaroos, one with a joey, in an enclosure with a green metal fence.

Wildlife Rescue Contacts

If in doubt, call your local wildlife rescue for advise on what to do when you find sick, injured or orphaned wildlife.

Contact us Currumbin Wildlife Hospital

Wildcare Australia

Tweed Valley Wildlife Carers (NSW)

Bats Queensland

Latest Wildlife Hospital News

Koala mum Myah on red cushioned hospital table with female vet checking heart rate while koala joey lays on her back

Meet Myah & Micah, an Adorable Koala Mum & Joey Saved From Chlamydia Disease

8 Jul 2025

Myah & Micah are a mum and bub duo that bring hope for Koalas. Australia is experiencing a Koala crisis and Currumbin Wildlife Hospital is working around the clock to save this endangered species from chlamydia, a life-threatening disease for Koalas. Protecting Koalas Myah & Micah From Chlamydia Our latest patients Myah & Micah are…

Female wildlife vet holding breathing support for black and white bird patient in care

Tropicbird Gets a Second Chance on Lady Elliot Island

6 Jun 2025

From rescue to release: A juvenile Red-tailed Tropicbird named Coconut was flown from the Gold Coast to Lady Elliot Island aboard a charter flight, after being found far away from its natural habitat. Just in time for World Environment Day! Thanks to the coordinated effort by the teams at Lady Elliot Island and Currumbin Wildlife…

Koala laying on red mattress on breathing support during treatment at wildlife hospital

Corey the Koala’s Close Call: A Reminder as Dispersal Season Begins

4 Jun 2025

Corey is a young male koala just beginning to find his place in the world. Like many joeys his age, dispersal season is the time to leave their mothers and seek out new territory. While this is an exciting time for koalas, Corey’s first big journey nearly ended in tragedy. Last week, Corey wandered into a suburban…

Stories Of Survival During Cyclone Alfred

7 Apr 2025

The vet team at Currumbin Wildlife Hospital remained positive during Cyclone Alfred and patient success stories kept motivation high. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing a patient through the process of treatment, rehabilitation and then release back into the wild. During Cyclone Alfred, our team were faced with an influx of sick and injured native wildlife….

Koala patient with blue bandage eating leaves in ICU recovering from surgery

Currumbin Wildlife Hospital’s Wildlife Rescue During Cyclone Alfred

16 Mar 2025

Currumbin, Gold Coast – As Tropical Cyclone Alfred tore through Southeast Queensland and Northern New South Wales last week, the dedicated team at Currumbin Wildlife Hospital worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure vulnerable, native wildlife continued to receive life-saving care. Preparing for Tropical Cyclone Alfred In the lead-up to the cyclone, stable patients were…

Peaceful koala bear resting on a tree branch

The Aftermath of Cyclone Alfred and Recent Storms

11 Mar 2025

Our heart goes out to the community and anyone affected by Cyclone Alfred. Sadly, it caused major damage to Currumbin Wildlife Hospital, particularly to the Waterbirds Outdoor Rehab. And this is just after the recent summer storms in February that have already left significant damage. Cyclone Alfred Update I hope you all managed to stay safe from…

How You Can Help

We can’t rescue, treat and release wildlife alone. You are part of the solution and can help by donating, volunteering your time or becoming a corporate partner. Together, we can make a real difference for Australia’s wildlife.

More Ways to Help

A brown possum curled up on patterned teal fabric, looking up with wide eyes.

Stay Up To Date

Want to hear about rescue stories, upcoming events and activities?

Follow Along

Join our newsletter

Jingeri – Hello

We respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the greater Yugambeh language region, the Country on which Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and Hospital are situated today. We recognise their continuing connections to the land, sky, waters (waterways), and wildlife. We thank them for caring for this Country and its ecosystems.

We celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, and we pay our respect to Elders past and present.

Birds

Ornate, stylized green bird in flight, patterned with white dots, against a black background.