We’re here #forthewildlife.
Emergency Contacts for Wildlife Care and Rescue
Below are some emergency contacts to call if you find a distressed, injured or sick native animal. Please note, these are numbers for the Northern Rivers regional area where the Byron bay Wildlife Hospital is located. If you have found an animal outside of this area please check online for the nearest local wildlife care groups in your area.
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02 6686 2852
admin@seabirdrescue.org.au
264 North Creek Rd, Ballina NSW, 2478
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+61 437 818 883
419 Hinterland Way Knokrow NSW 2479
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info@friendsofthekoala.org
23 Rifle Range Road, East Lismore, NSW
Office: (02) 6621 4664
24/7 Rescue Hotline: (02) 6622 1233
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24-hour Hotline
(02) 6628 1866
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24 Hour Hotline: (02) 6672 4789
PO Box 898, Murwillumbah NSW 2484
committee@tvwc.org.au
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What do you do?
Responding to wildlife emergencies can be dangerous and untrained responders may cause harm to themselves or the animal. You should not attempt to rescue a native animal if you don't have the proper skills. This is because:
incorrect handling and transport methods can be stressful for the animal and lead to further injury
animals are often situated in dangerous locations such as on powerlines or beside busy roads
many animals can cause serious injuries and even death, for example, venomous snakes, birds of prey, adult kangaroos or koalas, or animals carrying diseases, such as flying foxes (also called fruit bats).
You should only attempt to rescue a sick, injured or orphaned native animal not capable of fending for itself if it is safe for both you and the animal. You must not, however, attempt to rescue snakes, bats, flying foxes or marine wildlife.
If you find an injured, sick or orphaned native animal:
you should contact a professional as listed above for help
you should follow any instructions given by a professional you've contacted for help
you are not allowed to keep it as a pet – possessing or rehabilitating a native animal without an authority is illegal under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 and can lead to prosecution.
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Ensure you have a car rescue kit in your car for any such emergencies, you can purchase one here.
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Always check the pouch of any deceased female possum, kangaroo, wallaby or glider. Joeys often can survive a high-impact motor vehicle accidents and require rescue and rehabilitation.
If you do find a joey, call for help before removing the joey.
Download IFAW's Wildlife Rescue App to help wildlife in Australia
Our friends at IFAW have created a fantastic tool to help protect Aussie wildlife.
The Wildlife Rescue App connects you with the closest licensed wildlife rescue group if you find a sick, injured or displaced animal. It also helps track roadkill hotspots to support prevention efforts. It’s available nationwide – and it’s completely free to download!