Wildlife Tasmania

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HOT WATER BOTTLE USE

This event has been recounted as an important reminder of the dangers associated with offering an uncontrolled external heat source to marsupial joeys, in particular, hot water bottles. Under no circumstances does this advocate that hot water bottles should not be used, as they are effective and convenient if used in the correct manner.

This case is an example of good intentions gone horribly wrong.

The call was received from a member of the public seeking advice on the care of a joey wombat. The wombat’s weight was 105g.

Day 1(Saturday pm) - The caller was given first response advice and because of the animal’s size, was encouraged to hand the animal over to a person experienced in hand raising wombat joeys at this stage of development. The caller was reluctant to comply and was resonant in her resolve to keep the animal. After a series of conversations, the caller agreed that , in the best interest of the animal, she would hand it over.

The wombat had been kept in an unlined synthetic beanie and placed on a lightly covered hot water bottle held within a cardboard box. On collection, the carer carried out a quick check of the pouch temperature and found the animal was extremely hot to touch. The animal was immediately removed from its position on the hot water bottle and the opening to the pouch released. The animal cooled down and its condition was assessed in full approximately ½ hour later (there were no obvious signs of surface burns).

Day 2 (Sunday) – The joey appeared to be settling in well, fed well, with no apparent effects from overheating and no sign of surface burns.

Day 3 (Monday) - On inspection the wombat presented with slight dehydration but otherwise appeared to be in good condition. The joey was offered rehydration fluid and continued to feed well and was reacting normally, still no sign of any heat related trauma or burns.

Day 4 (Tuesday 3am) – The carer noticed that the digits on the left front paw were red, swollen and inflamed. At this point, the symptoms appeared to be some form of bacterial infection. There had been a three day time lapse between collecting the joey to appearance of symptoms, so initially, contact burns were not considered.

(Tuesday 7am) – The inflammation had spread further along the arm of the joey and the top layer of skin had started to slough away.

(Tuesday 11am) – Joey was taken to the local veterinary clinic where it was confirmed that the animal was suffering from contact burns that would have been sustained at least three days prior.

At the initial veterinary consultation it was not known how severely the animal would be affected, but the necrosis progressed at an alarming rate and by Tuesday afternoon it was clear the whole body would be affected. The animal was humanely euthanased.

Thanks to the efforts of Jennifer Mclean, the Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, agreed to provide advice and expertise in relation to the possible pathophysiology of burns suffered by the wombat. There was consensus that the burns were ‘contact’ burns sustained through exposure to heat from a hot water bottle. It was also agreed that this would NOT have to be a very high temperature to cause burns to this tiny animal, given its sensitive skin, lack of fur and small size.

The severity of any burn results from a number of factors including:

* The thickness of the skin of the area.

* The exposure time to the heat source.

* The amount of heat in the heat source.

The contact burn would have resulted from prolonged exposure of thin skin of the wombat to a heat source at too high a temperature. The burns would not have been obvious for two to three days .

First aid treatment of burns

There is still no final decision on `best practice’ for the first aid treatment of burns. Currently the Victorian Adult Burns Service recommends running water at `tap’ temperature for 20 minutes, on the area of the burn. Ice or icy water is not used, as this causes constriction of the blood vessels in the area.

Heat remains in the tissue after the heat source is removed; the application of water assists in the cooling process, limiting the amount of tissue damage sustained.

A suggestion for consideration – that a hot water bottle used with an infant animal is pre-warmed, then filled with water at the temperature required for the animal (not higher), wrapped in pre-warmed coverings, then enclosed in a segment `space blanket’ to conserve heat at the required temperature.

A constant check of the pouch temperature using a digital thermometer, especially whilst establishing the level of warmth required can not only avoid a severe burn, but decrease stress and alleviate fluid loss through dehydration.

The attached graph shows the extreme pouch temperatures that are reached within 30 minutes of introducing a hot water bottle as a heat source. The experiment was based on two variable water temperatures, hot water direct from the tap and boiling water from the kettle (and yes, some people do use boiling water). Two common pouching techniques were also used. The variation in the resulting temperatures was concerning to say the least. It is also interesting to note how long the pouch maintained the high temperatures.

The experiment was not conducted under strict scientific conditions, but carried out under a normal ‘caring’ environment. The in-pouch temperature was monitored every 5 minutes over a two hour period using a digital thermometer.

Patsy Davies

Calls to protect devils, kangaroos

Posted Tue Sep 7, 2010 1:47pm AEST

Protesters dressed as kangaroos hold anti-cull permit signs in front of Parliament House in Hobart

Animal rights activists want an end to permits to cull Tasmanian forester kangaroos. (ABC News: Cate Grant)

Animal rights activists are using National Threatened Species Day today to call for an end to permits to cull Tasmanian forester kangaroos.

Against Animal Cruelty Tasmania believes forester kangaroos are on the brink of becoming a threatened species.

The group's Patty Cosgrove says in recent years the native animal's population in the midlands has declined by up to 60 per cent.

"We are very seriously concerned about the culling by farmers and graziers we think a lot of it is unnecessary," she said.

"Negative farmer attitudes, they're still around, I know some farmers like them but it seems like there are a lot of farmers out there that just reach for the permit and the gun."

A new report on the Tasmanian devil and spotted quoll is also being launched today.

Infra-red cameras in the Upper Florentine forests have recorded quolls and disease-free devils in areas planned for logging.

Ed Hill from Still Wild Still Threatened says it is a farce that the logging industry is exempt from Commonwealth legislation designed to protect threatened species.

"If endangered species habitat continues to be logged, it'll be no be no surprise that we will keep losing top order marsupial carnivores like the tasmanian devil," he said.

"While millions are being spent on recovery programs to invest in insurance populations and try to combat the devil facial tumour disease, the issue of habitat loss is being completely ignored."

The Government has been contacted for comment.

22/5/2010 Today Still Wild Still Threatened released videos of endangered Tasmanian devils filmed in proposed logging coupes in the Upper Florentine valley. The films are being screened on Parliament lawns today from 10:30am, coinciding with the International Day for Biodiversity. more information click here

Brushies Under Threat

From Commercial Exploitation!

The Brushtail Possum in Tasmania is under threat of increased commercial exploitation. Yesterday we sent a request for people to help us with a protest on Saturday, now here are the details about the proposed plan that has forced us into action.

Currently up to 10,000 Brushtail Possums are killed under commercial licence for the domestic meat and fur trade. This number is set to increase to around 100,000, and expand to an international market, if the State Government Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment have their way!

The Draft Management Plan for the Commercial Harvest and Export of the Common Brushtail Possum needs to be approved by the Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts before it can proceed. The Plan is currently open for public comment until April 23, 2010.

Please add your voice!

Tasmania is the only state of Australia to allow the commercial use of Brushtail Possums.

This plan for commercial activity in an international market revisits a former plan that expired in 2004.

The current plan has come about mainly because of the agitation of one operator who stands to make money from the lives of these possums in the export of carcasses to Asia.

The markets of Asia require that the possums are killed in an abattoir, not in the field. This means that possums are trapped, kept confined in tiny transport boxes for up to 48 hours, before being unloaded and killed.

These shy nocturnal creatures are to be stolen from their homes and subjected to a horrifying journey and an even more horrifying end. Footage taken when the abattoir was last in operation show possums who were not stunned properly trying to escape, having their throats cut while still struggling, and pouch young being swung against the work-bench to kill them. You can view the footage on YouTube, a link is on our website.

Add your voice to ours and say NO, you don’t want our wildlife treated this way!!

There is no need for any kind of commercial possum industry.

Go to: www.aact.org.au/possum.htm for all the details and some suggested points for you to include, or call us on 0408 970 359

Join our Facebook group on this topic and invite all your friends to join. Lets make this the fastest growing Facebook page in Aussie!

DUCK RESCUERS NEEDED TO PROTECT NATIVE WATERBIRDS

In recent years there have been around 35,000 ducks shot each year during the three month open season in Tasmania. The opening of the 2010 duck shooting season is fast approaching and rescuers are needed to help protect and preserve defenseless native ducks. Every person that joins the rescue team could potentially save tens of lives in the slaughter that is sanctioned by our State Government.

We are currently building a team to walk proudly in solidarity for ducks at the season opening on March 6th at Moulting Lagoon (near Coles Bay). Seasoned rescuers and new recruits alike are all welcome. There are a range of duties to be filled so even if you don't want to get your feet wet, we need you.

To register yourself, or find out more, call 0408 970 359 or email nativeducks@yahoo.com.au More information is available via our website: www.aact.org.au/ducks.htm

And take a few moments to write to the party leaders, and the Minister and ask them to bring an end to this barbaric practice.

Chris Simcox

Native Waterbird Campaign Coordinator

Against Animal Cruelty Tasmania