Rescue and Rehabilitation of Australian Native Animals Inc

Important Update

It is with deep sadness we announce that after over 30 years of voluntary service to the Community RRANA is coming to an end.
Like so many charity groups, we have found it difficult to attract the quantity of new members required to share the ever-increasing workload.
We ask the public to understand that this has been a difficult decision for our members. It is extremely distressing to have to walk away however as of 1st March we will not be in a position to assist with sick, injured or orphaned wildlife, so please do not contact our members directly.
The RRANA phone will be disconnected on 1st March 2024.
In the absence of a voluntary native wildlife rescue group, it becomes the responsibility of NPWS to fill the void. Their number is (08) 8084 2880 as listed in the header of this website.
All calls must be directed to NPWS. Please contact them so that they are aware of the number of animals in the area that need help.
Our members wish to thank the Broken Hill public for their support and generosity over the years.
Thank you,
The RRANA team 💜

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Max and Furiosa

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Stephanie Grieve - January - March 2022.

Probably the most successful rehabilitation I have done since my time in RRANA is the severe case of magpie pox on magpie fledgelings, Max and Furiosa. These siblings were spotted by owners of the Mad Max 2 museum Adrian and Linda Bennetts in Silverton in January 2022.

Seeing them was quite confronting. Max had a very large sore hanging from his eye lid and sores on his beak and feet. Nothing like I had ever seen before.

Magpie pox is a pox virus specific to Australian magpies. The virus cannot spread to other bird species, but can be spread to other magpies.

It is transmitted by mosquitos who bite infected magpies and then bite other magpies, therefore spreading the virus. The virus generally appears when there is a wet spring and summer after a drought. After a tough time during the drought, the immunity of the birds is low. It usually affects fledgeling birds.

Furiosa was also severely affected by pox. She had pox sores throughout her mouth and covering her feet.

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Cute little Emu chick

(19/07/2023) Imagine residing on the outskirts of town and this small, Emu chick walks into your workshop. No father and siblings located sadly, so he or she is now in our care. Only 341gm 😮

Emu's can be very difficult to rear given that they have a tendency to imprint on their carers. As they mature this situation is less than ideal.

Delighted to report that this little one is in good hands and doing well. So very cute and adventurous. Trying healthy foods and drinking very well.

(03/08/2023) An update..... footage was supplied to the ABC by the chick's RRANA carer who filmed the little emu splashing and playing in muddy water at a dam.

Check out the video of the "splishing n splashing" on ABC facebook page:

"Splish, splash, I was takin' a bath, a rub dub, just relaxin' in the dam"

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Amazing Tawny Frogmouth

A brilliant ending to the day (06/07/2023). This amazing tawny frogmouth was found on the side of a busy road today and handed to a local vet service. After being medically cleared he came home and saw the rest of the day in a darkened crate on a toasty warm heat pad.

In the evening, after having a feed, we decided to test flight him and he flew. What a release we experienced!

This is the highlights we love as wildlife carers ❤️❤️

 

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Check out the video of the release on our facebook post

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ABC News stories

Broken Hill - RRANA

Microbats affected by recent cold snap could take refuge in people's homes

By Aimee Volkofsky
Posted Thu 30 Mar 2023

You can read the full story here on the ABC website. Broken Hill - Microbats [ABC News story]

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Orphaned kangaroo joeys keep outback volunteers on the hop

By Saskia Mabin and Aimee Volkofsky
Posted Tue 13 Aug 2019

You can read the full story here on the ABC website. Broken Hill - Pouch Potatoes [ABC News story]

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Meet "Jack" the Wallaroo Joey

Jack is RRANA's most recent youngster into care (14/05/2023) and is doing well but that's not the best part.

Little Jack was found by several teenagers who called RRANA.

Too often sadly, we hear of deeds from a small minority of teenagers who do wrong to animals.

Let's celebrate the good because this is the second Joey within 48 hours that has been handed in by a group of teens.

I can't name the teens due to privacy but I hope they read this because we at RRANA are appreciative that you helped, and so is Jack.

You have made a huge difference for this little fella xx.

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Murph the juvenile black shouldered kite

This is Murph the juvenile black shouldered kite who came into care today (14/01/2023). He was clipped by a truck and the lovely driver bought him to town for care.

Fortunately there weren't any broken bones, but just some bruising. Some R & R and a vet visit next week and hopefully he'll be on his road to recovery.

After being buritto wrapped he ate half a mouse.

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Kevin - a success story

A baby echidna was rescued from floodwaters in Menindee in November 2022. He was named Kevin, after his rescuer Kevin Staker, who found the puggle floating next to the road. Kevin was between three and four months old at the time. Following the rescue, he was was driven more than 100 kilometres to Broken Hill, where RRANA team members took care of him. Kevin was then transferred to Dubbo (more than 700km east of where he was found) for further care by specialised carers. When he is healthy enough, Kevin will be taken back and released near Menindee.

You can read the full story here on the ABC website. Baby echidna saved from floodwaters in Menindee, outback NSW.read about lucky Kevin

Champ - a survivor

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August and September are generally the busiest months for Shinglebacks to come into care.

The most common reason is dog attack after the lizard wanders into a homeowners yard and the pet dog may attack or attempt to “play” with it. Sadly, the lizards have very little defence against a grown dog.

It was early August several years ago when I was contacted about a Shingleback lizard that had been terribly mauled by a dog. The RRANA rescuer notified me that the lizard would require euthanasia more than likely due to the extent of the injuries.

On arrival, I was shocked at the condition of the adult lizard. His tail had been mauled beyond recognition. This is the moment in a wildlife carers mind that we consider what outcomes we might achieve for each individual animal that comes into care.

We also weigh up that although we have access through vets for good analgesia, ...how much do we truly wish to put an animal through. Such an injury would require a long rehabilitation process and I would have to be fairly sure that he would make it.

I decided that I would try as I did have previous success healing tail injuries albeit not to this extent. I decided to call him "Champ".