Emergency Response Service

Photo ©Doug Gimesy

PUBLIC SERVICE

A 24/7 lifeline for native wildlife

Wildlife Victoria’s Emergency Response Service is a 24/7 lifeline for native wildlife and the community.

Members of the public can report incidents of sick, injured, or orphaned native animals found anywhere across the state. This is a free service provided to the public at no cost.

Calls for help to Wildlife Victoria are increasing by 20% annually. Without this service, more than 190,000 wildlife emergencies would go unanswered each year. Injured sugar gliders, distressed koalas, orphaned kangaroo joeys—iconic species that define our landscape—would suffer without intervention.

SERVICE DETAILS

How it Works

When you call Wildlife Victoria, a trained Emergency Response Operator will ask you a series of questions regarding the situation and animal you are calling about.

Please be prepared to share the animal’s location with us via a dropped pin, or by sharing GPS coordinates. For instructions on how to share a location click here.

Our team may ask you to provide photos or videos that they can use to assess the animal. This can be done via email or text message.

The Emergency Response Operator will provide advice or dispatch a volunteer rescuer if needed.

Supporting our operators is state-of-the-art technology which pinpoints the exact location of the animal needing assistance. The database then lists the network of volunteers available at that time within a certain geographical radius.

Photo ©Doug Gimesy

Video production Annette Ruzicka

Our Emergency Response Service operates 24/7, 365 days a year. Our operators are available at any time, day or night, to offer advice and dispatch a trained volunteer rescuer if needed. We have over 1400 volunteers across the state – dedicated, compassionate people who are trained to respond to wildlife emergencies.

Support Us

Support our work saving native Australian wildlife

Donate

Donations $2 or more are tax deductible

Wildlife Victoria acknowledges the Traditional Owners and sovereign custodians of Country and recognise their ongoing connection to the lands, skies, waters and wildlife. We recognise their cultural, spiritual, and ecological stewardship that has protected and nurtured our native wildlife for countless generations