Minjerribah Wildlife Veterinary and Conservation Foundation

06/06/2026

This little cutie came to Straddie Vet from Wildlife Rescue Minjerribah with Lorikeet Paralysis Syndrome (LPS) — a seasonal condition affecting our beautiful lorikeets.

Affected birds are often found on the ground unable to fly, climb, or perch properly. They may appear weak, wobbly, dehydrated, or unable to hold their head up. Without urgent care, many will not survive.

While the exact cause is still unknown, cases are most commonly seen between October and June in Queensland and northern New South Wales. Early veterinary treatment and supportive care can give these birds the best possible chance of recovery.

What to do if you find a lorikeet showing signs of paralysis:
🌼 Carefully place the bird into a secure, ventilated box lined with a towel.
🌼 Keep them warm, quiet, and away from pets and noise.
🌼 Do not force food or water into their mouth.
🌼 Get them to your local vet ASAP.

Interesting fact: Rainbow Lorikeets are specially adapted for feeding on nectar and pollen, with a unique brush-tipped tongue that works like a tiny mop to collect food from flowers! 🌸

Thank you to everyone who helps protect and care for our native wildlife. You will be pleased to know this lorikeet made a full recovery and has been released back on the island.

03/06/2026

This stunning Boobook owl was found on the ground near a road and brought to Straddie Vet by Wildlife Rescue Minjerribah for assessment and care.

Boobook owls are Australia’s smallest owl species and are expert nocturnal hunters, using their incredible hearing and silent flight to catch insects, rodents, reptiles, and small birds under the cover of darkness. Their distinctive “boo-book” call is a familiar sound in many bushland areas and even suburban backyards.

Two common reasons they come into care are vehicle strikes and secondary rodenticide poisoning. Rodent poisons don’t just affect rats and mice — they can also have devastating impacts on native wildlife. Predators such as owls, kookaburras, eagles and snakes can become poisoned after eating contaminated rodents. Even small amounts can cause internal bleeding, weakness, neurological symptoms, and death. Because these toxins can move up the food chain, the effects are often widespread and heartbreaking for wildlife rescuers and carers to witness.

Where possible, safer alternatives such as snap traps, securing food sources, and reducing access to shelter for rodents can help protect both wildlife and pets.

25/05/2026

Mummy Squirrel Glider gets one last feed before she heads off to be released at Amity. Thalita has made a nestbox out of Bunnings hanging baskets! How snug does that look? Thank-you Thalita 🙏💛

Do you have any hanging baskets like this you're not using? Perhaps you could donate some to Straddie Vet and MWVCF so that we can use them for the next Squirrel Glider that comes in for treatment?

Stay tuned for the release back into the forest.

Video belongs to MWVCF please feel free to share with original post or credit.

23/05/2026

22/05/2026

Happy Volunteer Week!

This week we thank volunteers that have rescued wildlife and made it possible to treat, rehabilitate and release our precious wildlife here on Minjerribah.

Volunteers are purpose driven, dedicated, generous and kind people who are community focused and hold hope for a better tomorrow. 🌈💛

Volunteering isn't glamorous, nor do you see immediate personal rewards, it can be hard work, some of our volunteers juggle family life, full time jobs, and make personal and self-less sacrifices for the cause.

We couldn't do this without you, and we need you to continue to keep protecting and saving our vulnerable wildlife. 🐸🐨🐻🦘🦔🐭🦅🦈

Thank-you 100 times over and our wildlife thanks you. Here are some pics of the wildlife you have helped to save! (and plenty more...)

22/05/2026

Trees please! 🙏🙏🙏
We have been cutting and gathering leaf for the Koala orphans daily for the last 5 months and it now takes quite some time to source the leaf that the Koalas will eat because we need to be mindful of the trees the wild Koalas are using, and we can only reach so high with pole snips.

A big thank-you to local donor Greg who has some epic blue gums (that have been kept short) on his property at Myora that he has been helping our volunteers cut branches off - the Koalas absolutely love your leaf! 🍃🍃🍃👇👇👇

Until we are able to plant a plantation like the one in the picture here - they have in Victoria Point (BNE)... We need to source the leaf from existing trees on the island.

The Blue gum makes up about 80% of what the Koalas eat on the island and its the hardest leaf to gather because the trees are so tall but also because the Koalas only eat the new leaf (not the oldest leaf often closer to the ground). Scribbly gum might be confused as Blue gum and the Koalas aren't as fond of that leaf.

The Koalas also LOVE Robusta Eucalyptus as their second favourite leaf. Again theyll only eat newer growth.

We are calling on the amazing community for help. If you have some good Blue Gums and/or Robusta Eucalyptus that you are happy for us to prune the new growth off please reach out!

The Koalas also love trees like Brush Box, Coastal Sheoak, Corymbia, Weeping Paperback (Melaleuca) of which we can source fairly well.

You may have noticed volunteers pruning trees on the island, and this is a great way to encourage new growth which is both good for gathering leaf but also great for the wild Koalas. See pics for examples of new growth.

This is why in the wild, Koalas move around a lot more than you would think. Did you know that a Koala's territory can range from 5 to 22 hectares IF the quality of leaf if lush, but much larger up to 150 hectares if the leaf quality is poor?

Any questions flick us a message. 🙏💛🌈

21/05/2026

Nunka has been a little naughty lately. She had been hanging out in the dry part of the enclosure with Midyim in the open area getting quite wet lately with all of the torrential rain. Our volunteers had been creating a leaf hut for Midyim over her to keep her dry and warm.

Nunka has since discovered this little nook and has decided she likes it. So when she wakes up she rolls on over and pushes Midyum out of the way!

🐨🐾🐨🐾

20/05/2026

Midyim’s favourite nook. Volunteers make a shelter from leaves for her to keep her warm and relatively dry with all this torrential rain we have been having. How cute does she look in her nook?

🐨💛🌈

19/05/2026

Midyim ate herself into quite the food coma recently when our leaf collectors sourced some very delicious new Corymbia leaves. As you can see from the colour of the leaves being yellow green, they are super fresh.

Isn't she CUTE?! 🐨🐾

This video belongs to MWVCF please feel free to share with original post or credit to the organisation.

17/05/2026

A big thank-you to Mel, her mum and friends. Recently in their small village (molsberg Westerwald, 16,000km away in Germany, they dropped their market projects and started knitting these wonderful wildlife pouches!

These will come in handy for many wildlife creatures such as Macropod Joeys (Kangaroos and Wallabies), Gliders, Bats, and Koala joeys.

These are amazing! 😊🌈💙

You might be surprised how you could help our organisation with a donation of supplies, materials, financial donation or consider volunteering! Simpy apply via our website and our volunteer co-ordinator will get in touch with you soon!

https://www.mwvcf.org.au/volunteer