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Caring For the Wild

In a catastrophic disaster

Caring For the Wild

In a catastrophic disaster

After devastating bushfires, vital species have been left heavily impacted.

There is now growing demand to support an unprecedented number of displaced and injured wildlife needing emergency shelter and care.

It is now more important than ever to be prepared with the most suitable information possible and to consistently stay informed if you are in a situation where you are caring for wildlife.

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Animals like the Brush-Tailed Rock Wallaby have been significantly impacted by the recent bushfires in Australia. Photo: Tony Britt-Lewis.

About these guidelines

Providing food for free-living native wildlife is generally not recommended as it can lead to serious, unintended harms.

If areas of natural bush remain, there is no need to feed wildlife and it is best to allow wildlife to forage for food and water naturally.

In times of natural disaster when resources are scarce, members of the public may want to help by providing food and water short-term, until natural food sources regenerate (usually no more than a few weeks).

What you need to know

How you can help
How you can help

It is important to ensure you are well-informed on how to safely administer care to wildlife in need.

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Things to avoid
Things to avoid

Critical things to avoid when administering care for distressed or injured wildlife.

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Animals like the Common Ringtail Possum have special dietary requirements. Photo: Paul Fahy
Animals like the Common Ringtail Possum have special dietary requirements. Photo: Paul Fahy

Suitable foods guide

Suitable foods for supplementary feeding of uninjured wild animals where natural catastrophic disaster has temporarily eliminated their food supply.

The following information has been put together to help you match the correct foods to certain species.

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Animals like the Common Ringtail Possum have special dietary requirements. Photo: Paul Fahy

We proudly Acknowledge the Cammeraigal (Taronga Zoo, Sydney) and Wiradjuri (Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo) people, their Country, spirit and traditions as customary owners of the lands upon which our Zoos stand.