By Esther Lauaki
Wildlife dart gun rescuers are calling for help as they struggle to continue their work across Sunbury and the Macedon Ranges.
Manfred Zabinskas and two other volunteers for the Macedon Ranges Wildlife Network are trained to immobilise animals with a tranquiliser gun in difficult circumstances – but the cost of darts is hurting.
“We are the rescuers who get called to the most impossible of situations where all other rescue techniques are simply too dangerous, either for the animal or human safety,”
Mr Zabinskas said. “With no funding available by the government, it’s up to us to try to help ease the financial burden.”
He said rescuers had been kept busy in a recent week attending kangaroos, including nine in Sunbury, affected by poisoning from phalaris, a type of grass.
Mr Zabinskas said that the team was called out to emergency rescues not only in the local community but statewide.
“Darting rescues include kangaroos and wallabies hit by vehicles, loose on roads, attacked by dogs, trapped in shopping centres, buildings and backyards,” he said.
“Charity and volunteers undertake and fund this specialised and necessary work to ensure public safety. We desperately need funds to help cover some of the costs.”
Public donations helped fund the darters as well as helping cover the cost of caring for the rescued animals, Mr Zabinskas said.
To donate: mrwn.org.au
