Caring for secretive sea turtles, posing possums, and cackling Kookas – the day-to-day life of a WIRES warrior
Amina Kitching (now living in Elvina Bay, but formally of Lovett Bay) knew from a very early age that she wanted to care for wildlife. Having grown up in the Bays, her exposure to wildlife rescue and rehabilitation began with her neighbour, whose property was devoted to short- and long-term care of injured, ill, and neglected animals. As a child, Amina would often assist her neighbour with this work.
Amina soon became an active World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) member (she still has her young member’s badge) and a WIRES volunteer. All these years later, she remains a committed advocate for and carer of wildlife through WIRES.
In the early days, if wildlife were injured or ill, Amina would be given instructions over the phone and/or told to take the animal, bird, or marine creature to a vet. Now the process is far more streamlined and effective. Below are the usual steps taken when a member of the public phones to report injured or ill wildlife:
- Rescue volunteers like Amina have the WIRES app on their phone, which notifies volunteers that a report has been made.
- The first alert is always a rescue alert. A volunteer will accept the rescue and attend with their rescue gear.
- They will then take the wildlife to a vet to be assessed.
- The next alert will lead to a volunteer picking the wildlife up from the vet and releasing it or taking it to a rehabilitator.
- If the animal, bird, or marine creature recovers, it is always released where their rescue took place, unless there is a reason to do otherwise (which usually happens if the wildlife has been in care for a significant amount of time).
Amina and her fellow WIRES warriors receive from three to more than 10 rescue alerts every day, with Spring being their busiest season due to increased wildlife breeding and feeding activity.
The featured WIRES newsletter was largely designed and written by Amina. It focuses on sea turtles and the need to take particular care when driving around the Bays and dumping rubbish. Please read carefully, and let’s all work with Amina and WIRES to ensure that these magnificent creatures (and all our unique wildlife) remain as safe as possible.
And if you’d like more information, please go to WIRES Animal Rescue & Rehabilitation Instagram page.