‘Almost a call a minute’: Wildlife Victoria hits 35-year record call volume in 24 hours

Wildlife Victoria, the state’s leading wildlife emergency response service, has recorded its highest call volume in its 35-year history with 1,032 requests for wildlife assistance on Monday November 11.

While spring is historically Wildlife Victoria’s busiest period of the year, this spring has seen call volume skyrocket with a number of record-breaking days recorded. October was Wildlife Victoria’s biggest month ever with a monumental 21,644 calls for help from the Victorian public.

But over 1,000 calls in 24 hours is unprecedented and is a red flag for Victoria’s wildlife.

“Our native wildlife are under ever increasing pressure and the number of calls for assistance indicates the level of concern from Victorians when it comes to the protection of our native animals.

We’re committed to ensuring every call is answered and every animal reported receives the appropriate care.

But we’re doing it extremely tough. Wildlife Victoria is a charity organisation operating in a chronically underfunded sector that is experiencing substantive growth. Without additional support from the state government and the community, our ability to respond is weakened and our native animals suffer.” Lisa Palma, Wildlife Victoria CEO

Wildlife Victoria’s Emergency Response Service is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by highly experienced and trained Emergency Response Operators. They are equipped to triage calls and to dispatch trained Wildlife Victoria volunteers to cases.

“Our Emergency Response Operators are doing an absolutely amazing job under the increasing pressure. They have the knowledge and training to be able to triage calls, to educate the community and to provide advice.

And they dispatch our hardworking volunteers who are on the frontline of responding to this increase. They are out there every day helping sick, injured, and orphaned wildlife.” Lisa Palma, Wildlife Victoria CEO

The most common reason a member of the public called Wildlife Victoria was to report a sick, injured, or orphaned kangaroo, with many individual animals reported multiple times by concerned callers. Over 180 kangaroos required volunteer assistance in what were often complex and drawn-out rescue responses.

Kangaroos were called in from all parts of the state; from a kangaroo trapped in Melbourne Airport’s short-term parking complex, to another hopping down a busy Newport street, to Geelong and a kangaroo trapped in a residential backyard. To meet demand, many of Wildlife Victoria’s macropod trained volunteers attended multiple rescues.

“I want to thank every single Victorian who has called Wildlife Victoria to report a sick, injured or orphaned native animal. And of course, the incredible Wildlife Victoria volunteers that responded to cases yesterday. By working together, we have been able to reduce suffering and save lives.” Lisa Palma, Wildlife Victoria CEO

Wildlife Victoria is urgently calling for increased government funding to ensure the charity can continue to respond to every call for wildlife assistance.

Members of the public can also support Wildlife Victoria’s work by making a tax-deductible donation via wildlifevictoria.org.au.

Wildlife Victoria’s Emergency Response Service operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Members of the public who encounter sick, injured, or orphaned wildlife anywhere across the state of Victoria can call for assistance on 03 8400 7300.