Wild North Veterinary Hospital

22/11/2025

Wild North Vet will be open today 9.30am to 12.30pm and 3-5 pm for drop off of contained wildlife today.

For rescues contact

Darwin Wildlife Sanctuary 0473 992 581

Wildcare Inc NT 0408885341

Woollybutt Wildlife Rescue 0409 941 584

Please keep all wildlife dry and warm until rescued.

08/11/2025

Another Bird, Another Hook, Another Preventable Injury 🎣🌊🏥

Yesterday, another animal came into care after being injured by a fishing lure, this time a Little Cormorant (Microcarbo niger). The lure had become snagged in the rocks at Nightcliff Jetty, and this curious young bird, playing in the shallows, became hooked through its wing.

Thankfully, it was spotted struggling and rescued quickly. The bird was brought straight to us at Wild North Veterinary Hospital, where our team removed the lure, cleaned and dressed the wound, and provided antibiotics and pain relief. She will remain in hospital for the next week for treatment, but we are expecting a full recovery.

Sadly, many other wild animals aren’t so lucky. The injuries caused by lures, hooks, and fishing line can be severe, often too serious for them to recover. Many more animals will not be found, and will die from these injuries in the wild.

Lure injuries, entanglements, and hook ingestion are a constant part of wildlife veterinary work. We see everything from seabirds to turtles, birds of prey, and even bats suffering from fishing-related injuries. Too many don’t make it back to the wild.

💡 You can help reduce these injuries:

🪝Always take your fishing gear and rubbish home, and dispose of them carefully
🪝Retrieve lost line or lures whenever it’s safe to do so. Return the next day at low tide if needed
🪝Use barbless hooks or wildlife-friendly tackle.
🪝Fish away from areas where birds regularly feed or roost.
🪝Report entangled or injured wildlife to a rescue group immediately.

Together, small actions can make a big difference for the animals who share our coasts and waterways. 🌊💙

Photos by Anita Meadows

08/11/2025

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1253917813447937&id=100064891898936

08/11/2025

A Shell of a Recovery! 🐢💚🏥

This Northern Long-necked Turtle (Chelodina rugosa) was found wandering the streets of Coconut Grove and rescued by the fabulous Anita from Darwin Wildlife Sanctuary. At a whopping 4 kg, she’s an absolutely huge specimen!

Sadly, she had a nasty open shell fracture that had become infected. Radiographs also revealed a single egg retained in her oviduct, right under the fracture site.

The wound was carefully cleaned, dressings were applied, and she was started on antibiotics and anti-inflammatories. Because turtles only eat, drink, and defecate while in water — and she was unable to swim during recovery — a feeding tube was placed to provide fluids and nutrition while her shell began to heal.

Once she had stabilised from the initial surgery, oxytocin was administered to encourage her to lay the retained egg, but when this was unsuccessful, surgery was performed to remove it. The egg was adhered to the oviduct, likely due to internal injury associated with her shell trauma.

After three months of intensive care, she has now moved into our rehabilitation pond, where she’ll stay until her shell regrows and she’s strong enough to return to the wild.

A turtle’s shell is made of bone covered by keratin, a tough, skin-like material. A shell fracture is like a broken bone, leaving them vulnerable to infection and predation, and causing significant pain. With expert care and patience, and a lot of time for healing, this big girl is on the road to recovery. 💚🐢🏞️

30/10/2025

One Spikey Little Patient and her Wobbly Recovery💜 🐾

This juvenile Short-Beaked Echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) was found on the roadside in Acacia. Fortunately, the finder lived next door to licensed wildlife carer Nalani, who promptly transported her to Wild North Veterinary Hospital for assessment.

On presentation, she was quiet, dehydrated, bruised and had several fractured spines (quills), findings all consistent with vehicle trauma. Radiographs confirmed there were no skeletal fractures and, importantly, no injury to her beak, a fragile but essential structure used for feeding and electroreceptive detection of prey.

Once recovered from anaesthesia and in hospital she started showing neurological signs including; weakness, circling, ataxia, reduced awareness, and diminished predator response suggested head trauma.

Echidnas are extraordinary monotremes, egg-laying mammals, equipped with electroreceptors in their beak to detect insect prey, and a highly specialised sticky tongue designed to capture ants and termites. Their spines, low metabolic rate, and unique physiology make them exceptionally well adapted to Australia’s often harsh environment.

After three weeks of anti-inflammatories, rehydration, and intensive supportive care, this spiky little patient has made a full recovery and is ready to return to the wild. 🌿 ✨🐾

24/10/2025

💔 Rat bait tragedy – little Bill’s story

This young Northern Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus vulpecula arnhemensis), affectionately named Bill by her carer, came into care after losing her mum. Initially, she had a small bruise on one foot — but within days, it had spread to all four.

Veterinary examination confirmed the heartbreaking cause: rat bait poisoning. The toxin, brodifacoum, works by depleting vitamin K in the body, preventing blood from clotting and causing widespread internal bleeding.

We immediately rushed Bill into hospital for treatment and sourced a blood donor possum, Hastings, who was in care with our vet nurse Lana. Hastings donated 10% of his blood volume — the maximum safe amount — and was rewarded with some well-earned almonds.

Because Bill was so severely anaemic, her veins were too small to access, so an intraosseous catheter (a catheter placed directly into the bone) was used to deliver the transfusion. Despite our best efforts, little Bill was too severely affected, and we sadly weren’t able to save her. 💔

Possums and other wildlife can ingest rat bait directly when foraging, as the poison is designed to taste appealing. Joeys may also be exposed through their mother’s milk. Predators such as owls, goannas, and snakes, can be poisoned secondarily when they eat affected rodents.

👉 Please avoid using anticoagulant rat baits.

If rodent control is needed, choose wildlife-safe alternatives such as live traps, snap traps placed in secure boxes or electronic traps, instead of poisons. Rodent proof your home by sealing gaps, storing food securely, and reducing clutter and waste that attract rodents. Every choice makes a difference for our native wildlife. 🌿

11/10/2025

🌿 Happy Vet Nurse Day! 🌿

Shout out to our incredible nurses Lana and Kacey — wildlife warriors, reptile wranglers, bird whisperers, and exotic pet experts!

We’re so lucky to have the best team ever at Wild North. 💚🦜🐍🦘

10/10/2025

🌿 Who are you voting for in the Bird of the Year? 🐦

We asked our team who they’re backing — and why!

🪶 Lana: “I’m voting for the Bush Stone-curlew because I love their long silly legs, googly eyes, and haunting calls.”

🪶 Kacey: “I’m voting for the Rainbow Bee-eater because I appreciate a beautiful bird that can smash its prey!”

🪶 Dr. Bec: “I’m voting for the Australian White Ibis — I don’t think they deserve the bad reputation they’ve got. I’m amazed by their beak adaptations for feeding, and they’re always such fighters when they come into hospital.”

💚 Who’s got your vote this year? Tell us in the comments below!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1RLxb4J4te/?mibextid=wwXIfr

The BirdLife Australia x Guardian Australia Bird of the Year poll has officially opened!! 🐦🎉

Voting is open from 6–15 October. The bottom five birds will be eliminated at the end of each day, with tallies resetting just after midnight – and yes, you can vote every day!

The final round of voting for the remaining ten birds begins at midnight on Tuesday 14 October, after which the vote tallies will no longer be visible. The bird with the most votes when the poll closes at 6am on Wednesday 15 October will be crowned Bird of the Year 2025.

Will it be the always-the-bridesmaid-never-the-bride Tawny Frogmouth? 😴
The underrated, magical Fairy Tern? ✨
The tiny, mysterious long-distance traveller — the Orange-bellied Parrot? 🧡
Or Australia’s rarest raptor, the incredible Red Goshawk? 🦅

…Or maybe the humble Crested Pigeon steals the show. 💖

The winner will be announced on Thursday 16 October – get voting! https://www.theguardian.com/environment/ng-interactive/2025/oct/06/australian-bird-of-the-year-2025-vote-now

08/10/2025

🩺 Cat Attack Survivor: Northern Brown Bandicoot 🐾

This juvenile Northern Brown Bandicoot (Isoodon macrourus), affectionately named Sophia by her carer, was brought to us after being dragged into a house by a cat. The quick-thinking cat owner rushed her to a local clinic, who then referred her to Wild North Veterinary Hospital for specialised wildlife treatment.

On assessment, Sophia had multiple puncture wounds and lacerations, as well as pulmonary contusions (bruising to the lungs) — a common but serious injury in small mammals following trauma. Her wounds were thoroughly cleaned with betadine disinfectant and flushed with sterile saline. A large laceration on her head required surgical debridement and suturing.

Sophia was started on antibiotics and pain relief and is now recovering well with her dedicated Wildcare Inc NT carer, Mel.

🐈‍⬛ Cat bites are especially dangerous to wildlife due to the bacteria found in feline saliva, which can cause life-threatening infections within hours.

💚 Keeping cats indoors or in secure outdoor enclosures protects both native wildlife and your pet.

At Wild North Vet, we’re proud to work alongside local carers and the community to give injured wildlife like Sophia a second chance. 💖

07/10/2025

🐍 Surgical Management of an Egg-bound Darwin Carpet Python 🐍

Late last week, this female Darwin Carpet Python (Morelia spilota variegata) was brought to us after being spotted in a backyard with a large mass and showing little movement. She had reportedly been seen over the past month with the same swelling, gradually losing weight and becoming increasingly lethargic.

Radiographs revealed a number of retained eggs within her oviduct — a condition known as egg binding (dystocia). Over the weekend, we focused on stabilising her by correcting dehydration and providing warmth, pain relief, and antibiotics.

By Monday, she was noticeably brighter, and surgery (a salpingotomy) was performed to remove the retained eggs.

Post-operatively, she is recovering well. Her pain is being managed with a fentanyl patch and antiinflammatories, and she continues to receive fluid therapy, nutritional support, and antibiotics. She will remain in hospital for the next few months while she heals, regains strength, and starts to put weight back on.

We wish her well on her healing journey 🐍 💖 🏥

05/10/2025

💚 Berryl’s Wellness Visit 💚

This handsome boy, Berryl, a 12-year-old Indian Ringneck Parrot (Psittacula krameri), came to visit us last week for a full wellness consultation. 🦜

He received a thorough physical examination, a tidy pedicure, and we discussed his diet, behaviour, parasite prevention, and husbandry to help keep him in top shape.

At Wild North Veterinary Hospital, we take the time to discuss every aspect of your pet’s nutritional and environmental needs during their initial consultation. Our goal is to help your unique pet live a long, healthy, and happy life — and to prevent problems before they start. 🌿

💚 Why choose Wild North Vet?

✅ Friendly, knowledgeable staff
✅ Stress-free, predator-free environment (no dogs or cats!)
✅ Longer consultation times for in-depth care
✅ Dr Bec – the only clinical veterinarian in the Northern Territory with postgraduate training and qualifications in wildlife, zoo, and exotic pet medicine

📞 Call us on 0879268909 or visit www.wildnorthvet.com to book your unusual pet’s Total Wellness Consultation today!

03/10/2025

🦘🐦 Wanted 🐢🦉

We’re in need of old newspapers, pillowcases & bath mats to help line cages and care for our wildlife patients.

📍 Donations can be dropped off at:
Wild North Vet – 44 Graffin Road, Winnellie
🕢 Between 7:30am – 5:00pm, Monday to Friday

💚 Thank you for helping us care for native wildlife!