Helping sick, injured or orphaned wildlife
If you encounter a sick, injured, or orphaned wild animal (except marine animal strandings), immediately call 1300 ANIMAL (1300 264 625) for specialist advice on the safest way to respond.
Native wildlife may become sick or injured due to disease and other risks such as being hit by a car, attacked by other animals, or trapped in fencing or netting. Sickness, injury or death of wildlife can often result in orphaned young.
In such situations, specialised care and rehabilitation from a trained wildlife carer becomes essential.
Native wildlife may only be kept and cared for by a licensed wildlife carer. These qualified professionals have the expertise to give the animal the best chance of recovery and returning to the wild.
What to do if you find a sick, injured or orphaned animal
If you encounter sick, injured or orphaned wildlife immediately call 1300 ANIMAL (1300 264 625) to give the animal the best chance of survival.
To report marine animal strandings (of sick, injured or dead turtles, dolphin, dugongs or whales) call 1300 130 372 (option 1).
Even if wildlife does not appear badly injured, they may have severe internal injuries that need to be triaged by a specialist carer.
This also applies if you witness a dog or cat interacting with a wild animal. Even a small scratch or contact with another animal’s saliva can transfer harmful bacteria to the native animal that requires special diagnosis and treatment.
What to expect when you call 1300 ANIMAL
1300 ANIMAL operators will ask you a series of questions and provide you with specialist advice on the safest way to respond to the situation.
Depending on the species and situation, the operator may:
- provide advice on first aid and how to appropriately handle the animal
- dispatch a licensed wildlife carer or the wildlife ambulance to rescue the animal
- request you to transport it to a nearby wildlife hospital.
Remember to record the location where you found the animal so it can be returned to the same place once it has been treated and rehabilitated.
You will not be charged for the call or be required to share any personal information.
The laws
Queensland's Nature Conservation Act 1992 ensures proper care for native wildlife in distress.
Native wildlife may only be kept and cared for by a licensed wildlife carer. These qualified professionals have the expertise to give the animal the best chance of recovery and returning to the wild.
Without this skilled care, wildlife may not recover or lose their natural behaviours that they need to live a healthy life in the wild.
The law requires anyone who finds sick, injured, or orphaned wildlife to surrender it to a licensed wildlife carer or veterinarian within 72 hours. Fines apply for those that don’t.
We appreciate your compassion for our native animals. By taking these actions, you'll be directly contributing to Queensland's wildlife conservation efforts.