'Stranded' Eddie the echidna thought to have swum from Bribie Island's broken tip
Locals and wildlife carers believe the animal may have been swept away overnight during a high tide and say it could be "Eddie", a solitary echidna first spotted several weeks ago on the eroding spit of land.
Sunshine Coast resident Dave Cairns discovered the echidna at the base of a rock wall near Golden Beach and said it was alive but appeared to be exhausted.
"I think it floated across overnight," he said.
"It was about a kilometre from where wildlife's been trapped [on the spit].
"With the tide and swell, it could've easily been swept off."
Mr Cairns said in all his years living near the passage he had never seen an echidna in that part of Golden Beach.
"Never — not once in 30 years," he said.
"It's why I reckon it came from the tip [of Bribie]."
The echidna is now receiving veterinary care at Australia Zoo's animal hospital, being treated for exposure to salt water.
Licensed wildlife carer Sybelle Foxcroft took the creature in and said the echidna was in a humidicrib receiving oxygen.
She has previously taken part in a search of the island's tip to locate any animals that were isolated.
Ms Foxcroft said she believed it was the same echidna they had been tracking for several weeks.
"Looking at footage, his size and condition, it matches what I'd expect if he'd gone without proper food," she said.
Where the echidna was found is a densely populated area with apartment buildings and foreshore infrastructure, with little suitable ground for echidnas to burrow or shelter.
Dr Kate Dutton-Regester, a wildlife conservationist and lecturer at the University of Queensland, said echidnas were capable swimmers, though it was not often seen.
While typically found around freshwater sources, she said echidnas could plausibly travel some distance in salt water, particularly if assisted by currents.
Dr Dutton-Regester said the symptoms described were consistent with salt water exposure.
She said the echidna could have been swept off the island or may have entered the water voluntarily, but she could not confirm whether it came from the tip of Bribie Island.
"We're at the beginning of echidna breeding season," Dr Dutton-Regester said.
"If it's a male they often roam more widely in search of a mate."
Dr Javier Leon, a coastal erosion expert from the University of the Sunshine Coast, said recent conditions may have already displaced some animals.
"We have had a large swell from the east the last two days that might have contributed to further erosion and, potentially, the wash-over of wildlife," he said.
He said the area had already been severely damaged following ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred in February and warned it would become uninhabitable for animals.
Jen Kettleton-Butler from the Pumicestone Passage Catchment Management Body (PPCMB) also travelled to the tip with a wildlife carer at sunset last week in an effort to locate Eddie, but they were unable to find the animal.
Animals including goannas, lizards, snakes and small marsupials have recently been observed on the isolated section.
Ms Kettleton-Butler said the spit, cut off by two tidal breakthroughs, now measured about 30-40 metres wide and 300-400 metres long and appeared to be shrinking with every high tide.
When first contacted the Department of Environment said it had not seen any evidence of worsening impacts on wildlife at the northern tip of Bribie Island that would justify intervention.
The statement said the animals in the area were considered to be adapted to rapidly changing coastal conditions.
The department has been approached for further comment following the discovery of the echidna at Golden Beach.
Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie previously said he would request expert coastal engineers to urgently investigate the erosion and assess potential risks to wildlife.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
Families shocked, Eden-Monaro MP disappointed after NDIS provider put into liquidation
Families have been left in limbo after a popular National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) provider focusing on childhood development was placed into liquidation after four decades of operation. Not-for-profit organisation PlayAbility provides inclusive playgroups, individual support to children and their families, speech pathology, psychology and a mobile toy library in South East NSW. The business was placed into voluntary administration in January after the resignation of CEO Geoff Johnston. But parents and carers were shocked when a sign appeared on the door of the office on Monday confirming the business had closed. Bega Valley mother Natalie Coman's daughter is autistic, with higher support needs, and has been using PlayAbility services since 2021. She said she was worried her daughter would not receive the specialist care she needed. "The therapeutic services we have in this area are limited, and NDIS funding cuts to travel costs really impacted us because it means less of us are able to access in-home visits," Ms Coman said. Brisbane-based firm Oldham Advisory is PlayAbility's administrator. In a statement to the ABC, managing director Glen Oldham said the decision to shut down the not-for-profit came after a failed attempt at restructuring the business. He said a complex and changing funding system, as well as the challenges of delivering allied health and specialist services in a rural area, meant the business was no longer viable. Mr Oldham said resources were being made available to assist local families and the community to transition to other services. Eden-Monaro Labor MP and Minister for Regional Development Kristy McBain said she was disappointed by Oldhams Advisory's decision to place PlayAbility into liquidation. "It's a really disappointing outcome, and there are going to be families that are really impacted," she said. Ms McBain said it was a challenge to balance NDIS funding for providers with the needs of regional areas often lacking essential services. "We've got to look at how we can make sure people aren't missing out on those services just because they're in a regional location," she said. "And I think that's the big challenge with the NDIS." Australian Services Union secretary Angus McFarland said the closure had come as a shock to staff, and the union would work to ensure member's entitlements were protected. "Unfortunately it's becoming more and more common for organisations in the NDIS to be facing these pressures and closures," he said. "I know there is a focus on cleaning up the NDIS, and as the union we support a strong and sustainable NDIS. "But that has to mean that people with a disability in the community can still access great services, and it needs to also mean that workers are treated respectfully and have access to good jobs and job security." He said any concerns identified after meeting with staff this week would be raised with the relevant regulators. In a statement, an National Disability Insurance Agency spokesperson said it monitored markets to ensure participants could continue receiving the support they needed and that the market remained sustainable. "The NDIA has a process in place to support provider exits," the spokesperson said. "This includes working with participants, partners, providers and relevant stakeholders including the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission."
ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
Why diaspora communities in Australia opt for surgery in China and Taiwan
Miko Li has lived in Sydney for over a decade, but when her general practitioner told her she needed surgery to remove a benign tumour on her shoulder, she decided to fly to China. Ms Li made the decision after she was told it would be months before she could have elective surgery on the lipoma in an Australian public hospital. Without private health insurance, it would have cost her thousands of dollars to have the operation at a private hospital. "I live alone in Sydney and never had a surgery in my life, so I thought it's better having the surgery with my family around," Ms Li added. The 35-year-old, who doesn't travel to China often, said getting the operation there was simple. "I headed to the hospital right away after I got off the plane," she said. "After some checks with the doctor, they arranged a surgery for me the following week." Six months since that operation at the hospital in Hangzhou city, Ms Li said she was glad she got medical treatment in China. "It was quick," she said. "It cost me less than 5,000 yuan ($1,067) to do the surgery." Wait times for non-urgent elective surgeries in Australia is one of the main reasons people from the Chinese and Taiwanese diaspora in Australia are choosing to return to their home countries for medical treatment. Around 15,000 Australians travel overseas for healthcare or medical services every year, according to the Victorian government's Better Health website. However, multiple medical peak bodies in Australia warn against medical tourism for a long list of reasons, including possible lower quality of care and cost blow-outs if something goes wrong overseas. "Our quality assurance and accreditation systems are designed to keep Australian healthcare safe — for medical tourists, the risk falls to you as an individual," said Professor Mark Morgan from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. When Taiwanese Australian Domka Wang found out she needed surgery to remove a benign tumour in her uterus, she initially wanted to have the surgery in Adelaide, where she lives. Ms Wang was told she would have to wait for about a year for the operation to get rid of the painful teratoma. "It's annoying," she said. "The bleeding and cramps come and go but the doctor said it was not urgent, so I had to wait." Instead, Ms Wang travelled to Taiwan for the surgery. Her pre-surgery tests were done in one day and she underwent the operation at a public hospital three weeks after she arrived in Taipei. The surgery cost her $3,000, which was more expensive than having it at a public hospital in Australia but cheaper than having it done here privately, she said. La Trobe University's China Health Program director Professor Liu Chaojie, said travelling overseas for elective surgery could have benefits, "as long as the quality and safety" of the operation could be trusted. "In fact, you're contributing to the system because you're freeing up resources, allowing Australia's medical resources to better serve more urgent and critical cases," he said. Professor Liu said there were fewer doctors per person in China than in Australia, but the health system was more streamlined. In China and Taiwan, people don't need a GP referral to see a specialist like in Australia, so people can go to hospitals to get treated for any sickness or medical issue. "In mainland China, there is no queuing system. So as long as you pay, you will be treated quickly," he said. One hospital in China performed 400,000 surgeries in 2023, according to Chinese health think tank Vistamed. Diaspora community members are also opting to access dental healthcare in China. Lily, who requested to only use her first name to protect her privacy, is a nurse living in Sydney. She said her dentist in Australia originally suggested replacing four teeth — a "traumatic" prospect that would have cost thousands of dollars. Lily decided to get a second opinion in China, where a dentist recommended only replacing one tooth. She ended up spending $2,000 on a dental implant and a gum graft to fix an issue remaining from when she got braces as a teenager — a fraction of what she would have had to pay in Australia. Lily said she initially had some concerns about seeing a dentist in China, because of the country's new drug procurement plan, which prioritises cheaper drugs. She said medical devices could also be lower quality compared with similar products in Australia. "I was worried, but then I saw how [the dentists and nurses] prepared the equipment and [they gave] some assurance," she said. The Australian Dental Association has previously flagged concerns about dental tourism, including the use of poor-quality materials but also over-servicing. Cost was also a barrier to accessing medical treatment in Australia for Melbourne resident Emma Chen. Ms Chen wanted laser eye surgery to treat myopia so she could stop wearing glasses. Last year, Ms Chen's optometrist in Melbourne advised her against getting the treatment because she also had dry eye syndrome. She wanted to see an ophthalmologist, a doctor who specialised in eye and vision care, in Australia for further advice but it was too expensive. On a visit to China to see family and friends, Ms Chen sought an opinion from an ophthalmologist there, who told her she could have laser treatment on her eyes. "It [the surgery] only took like 10 seconds," she said. Ms Chen said she was happy that she could see clearly without glasses and did not have any complications after the surgery. Unlike the individualised health test system in Australia, in both China and Taiwan, patients can access comprehensive health screening packages. For Ms Wang, who had the tumour removed in Taiwan, this included a raft of tests like blood samples, X-rays, an ultrasound and urine and stool tests. Ms Wang said she completed the checks in Taiwan in one day. In comparison, she said she found the process of getting multiple tests, combined with the long wait for surgery in Australia, complicated and upsetting. "Even for an ultrasound, you had to wait," she said. "So, you first went to see the GP, waited for an ultrasound and after the ultrasound, you went back to the GP. And if that's not clear enough, you might have to book for another test." Ms Li and Lily also paid for comprehensive health package tests in China. They both said they liked that all the tests and results were done within hours but had some concerns with the system. Lily said the phlebotomist who took her blood samples was skilled, but she experienced some pain with another test. "I tried to chat to them but they had no interest in talking back to me. They were probably too busy. And it felt like they didn't care about my feelings," she added. Ms Li said she felt like it was "a factory production line and I'm the meat on the chopping block". Professor Liu said the Australian health check system is completely different to China's system. "It is not necessarily beneficial to conduct examinations for everything," he said. "Both examinations and treatments have positive and negative effects. It is not the case that all examinations and treatments are free of adverse reactions." Professor Morgan agreed that getting more tests was not always beneficial. "There is a cost to someone for every test — and an environmental cost — so [it's important to start] with simple tests to investigate likely causes and rule out important or dangerous ones," he said. Professor Morgan conceded there were delays, inconveniences and "clunkiness" in Australia's system. However, he said the GP's role in coordinating and explaining treatments to patients, and helping them access appropriate care had produced great results. "GPs help interpret tests and share decisions about subsequent tests," he added.
ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
WA doctor Raad Hassan referred to health regulators over death of Perth boy following circumcision
A Perth doctor has been referred to the health practitioner watchdog after the "devastating" and "preventable" death of a two-year-old boy following a circumcision. A coronial inquest found doctor Raad Hassan failed in his professional duty to take the necessary measures to ensure the boy's safety after performing the surgery at his clinic in December 2021. David Kalunga Flynn was two years and eight months old when he and his eight-month-old brother, Joseph, each underwent the procedure at Gosnells Medical Clinic upon their mother's request. Dr Hassan performed both surgeries and, as was his usual practice, sedated David with morphine but not Joseph, due to his age. The boys were sent home with their mother, Alice, a little after 2pm — about an hour after the first surgery was performed. At the time of discharge, David was still heavily sedated from the morphine and Joseph was suffering increasing pain and bleeding. Hours later, Mrs Flynn found David unresponsive with his skin cold to the touch. An ambulance was called and both David and Joseph were taken to Armadale Hospital. Despite ongoing resuscitation efforts, David was declared dead at 8.03pm that same evening. While Mrs Flynn was trying to come to terms with that news, she was told Joseph needed to be transferred to Perth Children's Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery to control bleeding from his frenular artery, damaged during the circumcision. In her report, Coroner Robyn Hartley said David was a happy, healthy child with no pre-existing conditions who never woke from the deep sedation administered for the circumcision. "David was a much-loved child taken from his family in devastating circumstances," Coroner Hartley wrote. "He underwent a simple, elective procedure that is generally considered to be safe when performed on healthy children. "The critical issue in David's case arose out of the administration of sedation in the form of morphine. "Procedural sedation, particularly in children, comes with significant known risks … [which] can be mitigated if the sedationist complies with requirements aimed at ensuring patient safety." Coroner Hartley found David ultimately died of a morphine overdose — which could have been identified and rectified if Dr Hassan had conducted the appropriate monitoring during and after the procedure. "This would very likely have saved his life," she said. "The three highly qualified medical practitioners who gave expert evidence at the inquest all agreed that, if David had been kept at Gosnells Medical Clinic after the procedure and monitored appropriately prior to discharge, his deterioration would have been identified and reversal of the developing opioid toxicity could have occurred." "Dr Hassan failed in his professional duty to take the necessary measures to ensure David's safety. His oversights were inadvertent and he has acknowledged his shortfalls and expressed deep remorse for the catastrophic consequences." The coroner referred Dr Hassan to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. Dr Hassan continues to practice medicine but no longer performs circumcisions and has relinquished access to morphine. The ABC sent questions to Dr Hassan's practice but did not hear back by the time of publication. Coroner Hartley said after sitting through two days of very difficult evidence, Mr and Mrs Flynn had been "gracious enough to share an insight into their cherished, cheeky son David". "While a series of photographs of him with his siblings were shown to the Court, Mrs Flynn told us of the special bond David shared with older sister Casmy, older brother Phillip and younger brother Joseph," she said. "She also gave us the bittersweet news that David now has a younger sister who he will never meet in this life. "Mr and Mrs Flynn have been supported through their loss by the Zambian community they know through their church. Noor Blumer represented the Flynn family at the coronial inquest and spoke to the ABC on their behalf. She said Mr and Mrs Flynn wanted to share the story of what had happened to David, and their pain over his loss, with the hope it may prevent others from having to go through the same. "They are a very committed Christian family and they are not the kind of people that are vindictive or out to get anybody," she said. "I don't think there's a good outcome for them, but I think the best outcome will be if there could be an improvement in practises when making circumcisions available. "It's really important that circumcision is something that is available to people that want to do it for whatever reasons [religious or otherwise] for their children, in safe circumstances."
