Latest news with #wildlifeRescuers
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Invasive weed killing hundreds of animals as $100,000 Aussie problem worsens: 'It's everywhere'
WARNING – DISTRESSING PHOTOS AND VIDEO: Hundreds of kangaroos have suffered a slow, painful death in recent months as an invasive weed wreaks havoc in one Aussie state, pushing wildlife rescuers to the brink as they fork out thousands of dollars to try and curb the growing problem. While it may look somewhat harmless, Phalaris aquatica — a tall, dry grass you've likely seen growing on rural roadsides — has a devastating impact on kangaroos. After consuming the toxic plant, which is commonly used as a pasture crop to feed livestock, roos develop what's known as the 'phalaris stagger', a neurological condition that makes them lose their balance and collapse, leaving them so ill they need to be euthanised. The imported species can also affect farm animals. Giving them cobalt or spraying it on the grass helps to protect them from the effects of the toxins. Cases can occur around the country, but they are particularly common in the southeast where the weed grows rampantly in late autumn and winter — and this year appears to be one of the worst yet. Invasive weed toxic to roos is 'everywhere', rescuers say Numerous wildlife rescuers across Victoria have been inundated with calls to help kangaroos seen suffering on roadsides and in paddocks. 'Phalaris is back with a vengeance this year… it's everywhere,' Walk On The Wild Side, a non-profit shelter, recently posted online after volunteers discovered a mob of roos showing 'odd behaviour' near a construction site. Some of the sick animals were seen standing with their 'heads pressed against cement walls', while others just sat on the ground, unable to move. 'Knowing there's nothing we can do for these precious souls is truly heart-wrenching. All we can do is give them the respect and dignity they deserve and send them off peacefully,' the group said. Luckily, in this instance, rescuers were able to save four young joeys from their mother's pouches. Several other organisations and concerned farmers have posted grim videos and photos in recent weeks of the devastating toll the 'cruel condition' is taking on the iconic animals in the hope of spreading awareness. Wildlife Victoria grapples with 'unprecedented' increase in cases In July, Wildlife Victoria recorded a staggering 433 per cent increase in kangaroo phalaris poisoning cases — a total of 485 — compared to the same month last year. 'Many of the cases we have dealt with so far in 2025 have spanned more than one animal, and in some cases entire mobs,' a spokesperson told Yahoo News, describing the increase as 'unprecedented'. 'This is a rapidly escalating wildlife crisis driven by prolonged drought, farming practices and extensive spread of the invasive weed with severe implications for native species,' they explained, noting the 'impact on rescuers has been major'. 'Most cases are untreatable. Humane euthanasia is often the only option to prevent suffering which is a heavy burden for our rescuers, both emotionally and physically.' Common roadside plant wreaking havoc in Australia: 'Shocking way to die' Sad reality of new 2.6km fence along busy Aussie road Aussies warned over 'nasty' common plant causing 'horrific' deaths Non-profit spends $100,000 on sedation, euthanasia in two months It's also taking a big toll on the finances of those trying to treat roos affected by the grass. In the last two months, Wildlife Victoria has spent $100,000 on sedation and euthanasia alone, plus additional staffing costs to manage the growing case load. The organisation is calling for greater awareness among farmers, communities and policymakers and has sought 'urgent' financial assistance from the state government. 'We are working through the operational response to some specific cases of impacted kangaroos on public land with both Parks Victoria and the Department of Energy Environment and Climate Action (DEECA). No one wants to see these kangaroos suffering,' the spokesperson told Yahoo, while also calling for 'better land management practices, regulatory measures, and stronger support for wildlife protection'. 'An easy fix would be to change the grazing grass to something that is not toxic to wildlife, and undertake an extensive program of eradication of the invasive weed across the landscape more broadly to enable the propagation of native grasses.' DEECA works with a number of agencies across the state, like VicRoads, Parks Victoria and local councils to help control phalaris. However, getting rid of the invasive species entirely may prove quite difficult. Weed science professor at the University of Queensland, Bhagirath Chauhan, previously told Yahoo phalaris is a fast-growing, resilient plant with seeds that can take a long time to germinate. 'So it means even if you can stop the seed production in this season, you will get these plants in the next three to four years, definitely,' he said. To donate to Wildlife Victoria, click here. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
ABC News
14-05-2025
- General
- ABC News
Kangaroos rescued from open water channel in central Victoria as rescuers call for roo-proof fence
Wildlife rescuers are calling on authorities to build a kangaroo-proof fence around a central Victoria waterway to stop animals from drowning. On Monday, wildlife rescuers were called to the Coliban Water Main channel in Faraday, 116 kilometres north-west of Melbourne, where 10 kangaroos were trapped and eight died. The animals had become stuck on the muddy floor within the concrete walls of the channel. The 70-kilometre-long channel takes water from the various storage facilities near the Macedon Ranges from Malmsbury to Bendigo, where it is treated for human use. The water is also used for agricultural irrigation. Sam, who requested their last name not be used, helped rescue one kangaroo that survived and said it was not the first time animals had drowned in the channel. The wildlife carer said the clean-up, which involved caring for two injured animals, was an "incredibly frustrating" ordeal, given they had previously raised concerns with Coliban Water several times with no response. Sam said, ideally, Coliban Water should build a fence similar to the rabbit and dingo-proof fences built in Australia in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. "Maybe a model like that would help prevent these animals from ending up in the water," they said. A Coliban Water spokesperson said the water authority was committed to the protection of wildlife. "There are currently 47 wildlife crossings along the 70-kilometre-long channel designed to provide safe passage," the spokesperson said. The spokesperson also said more work would be carried out "to better understand the movement of wildlife in the area" so that more wildlife crossings could be installed. Northern Victorian Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell raised concerns about the open water channel in the Victorian Parliament earlier this year. Ms Purcell said she requested a copy of the map identifying the 47 wildlife crossings, but it was yet to be forwarded to her office. The ABC is awaiting further comment from Coliban Water about the wildlife crossings. Ms Purcell said she believed issues around urbanisation and habitat loss were also an important part of the conversation. According to an analysis by demographer AreaSearch, the population of the central Victorian town of Castlemaine, near Faraday, had grown by almost 5 per cent since the last Bureau of Statistics census in 2021. In Gisborne, another central Victorian town, population growth had also exploded, and the council expected the population to double in the next two and a half decades. Ms Purcell will chair a parliamentary inquiry committee examining wildlife strikes on the state's roads. "More and more native animals are being hit on our roads," she said. "Now, that's not a coincidence. Academics, such as Euan Ritchie, professor of wildlife ecology and conservation at Deakin University, have previously raised concerns around how housing construction in growing neighbourhoods has impacted wildlife. "We know we've got a housing crisis, we've got an increase in population and we need to find homes for people, but we are also lucky that we have a lot of wildlife in and around our cities," Professor Ritchie said. Professor Ritchie said many native animals became landlocked when infrastructure and development were not adequately planned for their movement. "We can, of course, set aside areas as part of estates that animals can move through," he said. "It doesn't mean people have to give up their houses." Professor Ritchie also said dry conditions across the state, particularly in the west, were also playing a role in the movement of wildlife, perhaps leading desperate animals to search for water in unlikely places. Coliban Water has been asked if the kangaroo drownings pose any risk to humans. According to their website, all water from the channel is treated before human consumption.
