A team of Aussie rescuers flocked to an eight-metre-long drain that runs under an air force base road, and had filled with water after a deluge of rain. Inside was a wild animal that had been disturbed five hours earlier and needed somewhere to hide.
Lying on her stomach, rescuer Belinda Donovan could see the wombat, poking her head just above the water. Her biggest worry was that she would develop hypothermia and die, and so she needed to act quickly.
“I could see her beautiful silhouette, and could hear her scraping her nails on the concrete,” she told Yahoo News Australia.
Together with her husband Phil, they worked to try and scare her out of the hole. Firstly, they tried loud clapping, then they took their shoes off and started splashing in the water.
“By that stage, she was getting weaker. And her head was dropping,” Belinda said.
Related: 🐋 Whale mother and calf trapped off Australia’s coast
There were fears a wombat would die of hypothermia after it entered a wet drain and refused to leave. Source: Mudgeroo Wombat & Wildlife Refuge
Wombat panics inside storm drain
The wombat had become stranded at HMAS Albatross at Nowra Hill on the NSW South Coast. Led by Belinda and Phil, the Navy and fire brigade also rushed to the drain to help, working for two hours to release the trapped marsupial.
Increasingly concerned about the wombat’s health, Phil directed the fire brigade to direct their hose inside and squirt water at the concrete inside the drain to scare her.
“She panicked and ran out. And my husband jumped on her,” Belinda said.
Incredible images show the relief on Phil’s face as he clutches the wombat in his arms. His trousers and boots are soaking wet, but the animal is now free and about to receive the best possible care.
Luckily, the wombat was not carrying a joey, or it would have drowned. Other than being a little cold, she wasn’t directly harmed by the experience, so a decision was made to dry her off and release her.
Phil was soaking wet, but relieved to finally have the wombat in his arms. Source: Mudgeroo Wombat & Wildlife Refuge
Struggle to finance wildlife rescue missions
In Australia, the majority of wildlife rescue work is done by volunteers, and providing veterinary medication, food, and housing for wild animals comes at a massive cost that can run into the thousands every month. An added expense is maintaining a vehicle and paying for petrol to drive huge distances to reach animals, and then there are personal expenses like paying a mortgage.
Phil is in his mid-60s, but continues to work to fund their wildlife rescues, while Beninda volunteers full-time at their Mudgeroo Wombat and Wildlife Refuge. The pair are currently raising donations to try and fund their ongoing wildlife work, and donations can be made here.
Love Australia’s weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week’s best stories.
