From sea turtles to gliders we’re passionate about the diverse and unique wildlife around us and we’re always ready to help with injured animals.  We often work with Queensland Parks & Wildlife, Girringun Rangers and environmental groups, but we also have a huge network of wildlife carers and enthusiasts and our Tully vets occasionally run talks and workshops on wildlife care to keep our wonderful community educated and connected.

Dr. Graham in Atherton is Australia’s leading expert in the veterinary care of cassowaries.  He has treated over 300 injured, sick or orphaned cassowaries over the last 25 years and has developed treatments and protocols that have saved the lives of countless adults and chicks, many of which are hit by vehicles on local roads each year. You can help too by always driving with care in cassowary country and reporting injured animals.

Since the early 2000’s Tropical Vets have played a pivotal and essential part in treating endangered species on the Cassowary Coast in far north Queensland.

During the last 20+years Tropical Vets have built expertise within their veterinary team to provide specialized, essential and timely treatment for the endangered Mahogany Glider.

The majority of Mahogany Gliders that present for care are injured on barbed wire fences. They become ensnared when trees are too far apart for them to successfully glide across the gaps. Since 2000 Mungarru Lodge Sanctuary has worked with the assistance of tropical vets to develop and establish treatment procedures that now see almost all injured endangered Mahogany Gliders recovered and returned to the wild with shorter stays in care, less stress and better long term recovery.

It has been wonderful to see this work continued today by Tropical Vets team of young highly skilled and caring vets.  

With a population of only 1500-2000 Mahogany Gliders remaining, every one of these gliders matter to the long term viability of the species.

General wildlife assistance

Our vets often receive injured or orphaned wildlife, which they assess, treat and move on to licensed carers. If you find injured or orphan wildlife, we ask that you please get the animal to a vet as soon as you are able.

If you can't get the animal to a vet or licensed wildlife carer right away, here is some general advice on what to do:

  • Always be mindful of your own safety and wellbeing when rescuing an animal. If you cannot safely rescue the animal yourself, record its location and contact your local wildlife rescue. Similarly, if you are not able to capture, restrain or untangle an animal which is trapped or injured without risking your own safety or causing the animal further injury, please contact your local wildlife rescue.

  • Minimise stress by placing the animal somewhere warm, dark and quiet. Do not expose the animal to unnecessary stress by handling it longer than is required to restrain and secure it somewhere safe.

  • Do not attempt to give the animal food or water. If the incorrect food is given, or either one is administered incorrectly or at the wrong temperature, this can cause the animal harm or even death. Furthermore, this may delay the ability of vets to provide important diagnostics or treatment once at the clinic.

Thank you for looking out for our native wildlife!