Australian Bushfires: What You Can Do to Help

Photo by bertknot from Flickr

In my last post, I wrote about the effect of the fires on Australia’s wildlife. Since then, the scope of the disaster has continued to grow. An ecologist from the University of Sydney now estimates more than 800 million animals have been affected in New South Wales alone, and more than 1 billion animals across Australia since September.

After reading my last post, a college friend from the United States asked about the wildlife carers. Beyond monetary donations, he wondered if any practical supplies could be sent to them. Another friend asked what the firefighters needed. One thing I can do in this situation is research, so I reached out to my Australian friends that are involved in different charities, and here’s what I discovered.
 
Wildlife carers are in desperate need of vet supplies like bandages, wraps, medicines, and ointments. They also need hanging pouches to be sewn for all the orphaned marsupials. The fabric used to make the pouches should be 100 percent cotton or cotton flannel. Here are patterns for:

• Day bag for kangaroo joey
• Night bag for kangaroo joey
• Day bag for wallaby joey
• Night bag for wallaby joey

​Little care packages are being put together for the firefighters through the #SLABSFORHEROES effort. Needed items include:

• Lip balm
• Phone battery chargers
• Electrolytes (liquid, powder, satchels)
• Hand sanitizer 
• Wet wipes (large boxes with packets in them as they are being split)
• Little tissue packets (handbag size)
• Paw paw cream
• Saline/eye drops (individual vials)
• P2 masks
• Pens and little notebooks
• Women personal hygiene products
• Deodorant (non aerosol)
• Small shampoos and conditioners 
• Sunscreen (non aerosol)

For both the wildlife carers and firefighters, supplies can be mailed to:

Parcel Locker 1004339105
99 Mawson Place
Mawson ACT 2607
Australia
ATTN: Angel Ben
 
In another effort, The Rescue Collective, which distributes supplies to ​wildlife carers, needs the following:

• Wombaroo Formulas (All Species)
• Good quality Bird Food
• Di-Vetalact
• Macropod Pellets
• Wombaroo Impact
• Vetafarm Spark Liquid & Critta Care
• Lectade Oral Hydration
• Syringes & Saline
• Feeding Bottles & Teats
• General Medical Supplies
• Baby Wipes (great for baby wildlife!)
• Paw Paw Ointment
• Sorbolene & Pure Vitamin E Cream
• Bat Wraps & Pouches

For some of the more obscure items on the list, you can try online Australian vet suppliers like vetnpetdirect.com.au or vetproductsdirect.com.au. Or you could order online through a U.S. pet supplies company like www.petcarerx.com.

For The Rescue Collective, please mail supplies to:

Nicole Blums 
C/O The Rescue Collective
4/55 Tenby Street
Mount Gravatt 4122
Australia
 
Monetary donations are always welcome. For disaster recovery, try the Australian Red Cross. To help the firefighters, donate to either the New South Wales Rural Fire Service  or the Victorian bushfire relief effort. Donations to care for native animals can go to The Rescue Collective and NSW Wildlife Information, Rescue, and Education Service, Inc. (WIRES).
 
I am humbled by and thankful for the care and support shown to Australia from people all over the world.