This month I was fortunate enough to accompany my colleagues on a trip to the Melbourne Zoo to participate in a LEAP Wildlife Awareness Workshop. This visit was specifically focussed on learning how to identify injured and sick native wildlife. The focused animals were Eastern Grey kangaroos, Australian fur seals, echidnas, and little penguins. The presentation also touched on koalas and sea birds. The talk was delivered by Fiona Ryan, Dr Sarah Frith, and Mark Keenan from Zoos Victoria.
I really enjoyed learning about the Marine Response Unit lead by Mark. The work that Mark and his team do in helping identify and rescue injured marine life is extremely important for the coastal ecosystem we work in.
I was very pleased to walk away with new skills and knowledge on how to advise the public on who to contact around injured wildlife. I also learnt how to identify if an animal was in urgent need of help or if I should simply monitor the situation. These skills are invaluable for the work that we do as an organisation.
And honestly how fun is the Zoo!
Images courtesy of Zoos Victoria.