Behind the scenes at Currumbin Wildlife Hospital

Over the last 20 years, Currumbin Wildlife Hospital has treated over 140,000 wildlife patients, making it one of the busiest wildlife hospitals in the world. With a mission to treat, rehabilitate and release Australian wildlife, many of these patients would have struggled to survive without the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital and its incredible network of wildlife carers.

Everything from koalas with chlamydia to pelicans with fishing hooks caught in their eyes passes through the doors of this hospital. A service that is offered free to the community, the treatment and care of this wildlife does not come cheap, so donations and support are desperately needed.

Located on Queensland’s Gold Coast, Currumbin Wildlife Hospital is headed up by Senior vet Michael Pyne who has worked at the hospital for 21 years. The facility is pretty much ER for wildlife, where the vets and volunteers treat wildlife including koalas, birds such as wedge-tailed eagles and lorikeets, flying foxes, pythons, water dragons and a variety of snakes.

Most of the animals they care for are brought to the hospital because of trauma, such as road accidents, attacks by domestic pets, flying into windows, or becoming caught on fishing hooks. The majority of animals will stay at the hospital until they are stable before being fostered by wildlife carers for their rehabilitation. Most are released back into the wild.

Local Gold Coaster and TV personality Candice Dixon works as the Social Media & Content Producer for Currumbin Wildlife Hospital and is a passionate advocate for wildlife conservation. She spends her time educating the public about the fantastic work completed every day at Currumbin Wildlife Hospital.

While showing Where Wild Things Roam editor, Kate Webster, behind the scenes at the hospital, Candice said she found it challenging but rewarding work.

“I’ve always had a calling to help koalas but I never realised the extent of that calling until I started at Currumbin Wildlife Hospital. I never quite understood the difficulties they’re facing in the wild and seeing it first-hand every day has been very difficult. I was shocked to realise that so many koalas in the wild were dying from chlamydia.”

Candice Dixon – Social Media & Content Producer for Currumbin Wildlife Hospital

One of the main admissions to the hospital are koalas, with about 80 percent of those patients sick with chlamydia. Explaining the dire situation of this disease in koalas, Currumbin Wildlife Hospital put together an informative and eye-opening social media video to help educate the public.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Currumbin Wildlife Hospital (@currumbinwildlifehospital)

The good news is that koala patients at Currumbin Wildlife Hospital are now being vaccinated against chlamydia, which is a move in the right direction.

How to help

There are ways that the public can get involved and help in becoming wildlife warriors themselves while experiencing some amazing wildlife first-hand. Below is a list of ways to get involved and donate.

FRIENDS OF THE HOSPITAL

Join a group of passionate people dedicated to being educated about the care and conservation of our local wildlife through the efforts of the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital. Friends of the Hospital are invited to meet the animals, experience the hospital, and attend exclusive quarterly vet talks and other benefits.

Become a Friend

HELP PAVE THE WAY FOR WILDLIFE

A Walkways for Wildlife paver is the perfect gift or personal memento. Have a special message or business name and logo engraved and laid at Currumbin Wildlife Hospital for you to come back and see every time you visit us! Help pave the way for wildlife and order your Walkways for Wildlife personally engraved paver.

Purchase Your Paver Today!

​BEQUESTS

Leave a charitable bequest in your will and help save Australia’s native wildlife. The thousands of wildlife animals that come through Currumbin Wildlife Hospital each year are released back into the wild to breed and produce future generations. A gift in your will help continue to provide treatment to the wildlife animals. It will also go to research in helping find cures to diseases affecting these animals and provide education so you can trust the local wildlife will be left safe hands.

Find Out More

TREE TO ME

Sick and injured koalas recovering in hospital can be very fussy eaters. Each koala has their preferred gum species. The gum cutters and veterinary nurses need to select several types of gum every day to keep the hospital patients happy. The Wildlife Hospital now treats over 600 wild koalas every year, so that means they need to ensure the varied gum species for the koalas are readily available. The Tree to Me Program allows Currumbin Wildlife Hospital to continue to plant eucalypt trees in their Plantations. For as little as $10, you can help.

Buy a Tree Today!

WILDLIFE HOSPITAL TOUR

Get a private tour of the Wildlife Hospital plus admission to Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary for the day! Currumbin Wildlife Hospital invites you to share 60 minutes in one of the busiest wildlife hospitals in the world! Your group will be personally escorted around the Hospital to learn about the medical care each animal receives, watch live surgery (if available), walk through the rehabilitation area to see the turtle pools, echidna enclosure, raptor recovery, ‘Feather Library’, koala recovery, water pond, and many more exciting areas the public do not get to access! The passionate staff will share their love for our wildlife, inspiring you to spread awareness about the work being completed in the Hospital.

ENCOUNTER DETAILS

Name: Currumbin Wildlife Hospital Tour

Days Available: Daily*

Time: 12:00PM

Price: From $500 (4 people) and includes the hospital tour as well as four entry tickets to Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

Positions Available: 5 spots per session

Terms & Conditions apply

To find out more about Currumbin Wildlife Hospital visit currumbinsanctuary.com.au/wildlife-hospital