Cheryl Long is a transporter of a different kind.
She picks up injured or orphaned wildlife and takes them to registered carers or veterinary clinics on a voluntary basis. She dreams of the day all people in the community stop and save an animal or bird that is in distress.
“My hope is that it gets to the stage we can dial a number like 000, perhaps 999, when there is injured wildlife,” Cheryl said.
“It could be taught at school how to save wildlife, so it becomes natural to stop and help. It could be saving a joey out of the pouch of a kangaroo hit by a car or collecting some orphaned ducklings. Everyone would become a keeper of the wildlife.”
Cheryl explained if you see an ‘X’ on roadkill it means the animal has been checked for any young who are still alive.
There is a protocol to saving such animals including calling Wildlife Victoria to find the nearest licensed carer.
“A joey can last for two or three days,” she said.
“If it is a pinky, which means it has no fur, has eyes closed and flat ears it is impossible to save and should be left in the pouch with its mother. A velvet, meaning a joey with some fur, can be saved from the pouch.
“If it is attached to the teat don’t pull it off, you may need to cut the teat off as well. Remember a wombat pouch faces backwards.
“Basic care advice I can give you is to keep the joey warm, in the dark and quiet. Wrap them up so they are confined with no noise like radios.”
As Cheryl lives in town she cannot care for animals, but at the moment has four-week-old wood ducks, three-week-old shell ducks and unusual for her, a cygnet.
She started a Facebook group called ‘Wildlife Transporters East Gippsland Shire’ some time ago and would like to see more volunteers helping.
“I am retired but with so few transporters it can be like a full-time position,” she said.
“I have just travelled to Sale to pick up a cygnet and am off to transport some ducklings from Rosedale this afternoon. I am hoping someone will meet me halfway.
“We need not only transporters, but also more carers, as many have been doing their bit for decades. You will be well supported by Wildlife Victoria both emotionally and with courses.”
Cheryl self funds a lot of the care but is also grateful to Dy-Mark who donated 11 boxes of pink spray paint, Warriors for Wildlife who raise funds and donate and who also organised dreys for possums donated by Bunnings.
“If I won $10 million in Tattslotto I would build a wildlife hospital in Lakes Entrance and employ a vet,” she said.
“We are not the be all and end all of life on earth, we have to learn to share this land with animals who have been here before we were.”
Cheryl will have a booth at the upcoming expo of local groups at the Mechanics Hall on October 6, but also does Wildlife Wednesdays at the Slipway from 10am to noon.
