Australian journal 15 Cunnamulla

Brisbane and the Queensland’s Oubtack Cunnumulla
One goal of my solo travel in Australia this year was to explore Queensland’s Outback and dirve along the Savannah Way. Unfortunately I could not find any travel companion to share with me this long route: 2500km from Cairns to Darwin, I was hoping to drive through. It as a pity, I will have to do it another time.  So I changed my plans and decided to discover some hidden places out in the remote dusty inland of Queensland.

The remote Outback area of Cunnumulla
 Cunnumulla was one of the highlight of my travel in Queensland. I love the australian outback. I think this is the most attractive landmark of Australia. There are countless places to explore and Cunnumulla was one of those places that stays in your heart, off the beaten track, you wish to return one day and discover more of the place.
Michela
 (to be continued)

Australian journal 14

On a couple of days I also had the chance of looking after turtles, helped out with the cleaning of the pools and feeding them. In the picture I am placing a turtle patient back into its pool, after receiving medical treatment from a nurse.
 Leafing In Leafing Out, you might be wondering what is this? As you know Koalas only eat Gum Tree Leaves but only a certain type of leaves. And they truly are avid eaters, they eat and sleep all day long. One of your task as a volunteer is to make sure that each enclosure is filled with fresh gum tree branches for koalas to grab and eat. Take a look at the pictures so that you can get an idea of how leafing in and out is done.
During the cleaning process you have to remove the old leaves and replace them with fresh gum tree leaves. You must develop the feel for it, what has to be removed and what can be left inside. Moreover some of them prefer eating only a certain type of gum tree leaves, so at the beginning it was very confusing, but after a couple of days you get used to it and you do it naturally. If you ask me, I still cannot distinguish a blue gum leaf from a casuarina gum leaf   But do not worry  experienced volunteers and the lovely wildlife hospital staff help out with that, pulling out the right bunches of fresh gum tree leaves for you to fill the pots in each koala enclosure!
Michela
 (to be continued)

Memories from my Wildlife Warrior Volunteer Experience

The 5 days spent volunteering at the Wildlife Hospital are filled with many beautiful memories. The list could be endless. At this stage I want to share with you some of the highlights of my Wildlife Warrior experience. Cleaning the enclosures of sick and injured koalas. Every day each single enclosure is cleaned  from top to bottom thoroughly. A daily routine work wich included scrubbing and washing the floor and the brunches from the dirt, as well as filling the pots with fresh water, leafing in and out, etc.

Feeding Koalas was, among other things, the most exciting experience. You need to learn some basic skill of how to do it properly but it is not difficult at all. However feeding koalas is not as eay as it may sound, koalas, like human beings, have their own character, moods and approach, some koalas are keen on their daily paste, some others simply hate it. So as a novice warrior I only had to feed the “good ones” and I had the honour of feeding the koala patient Warren for a few days, as you can see from the pictures below, I really enjoyed it and Warrend did it too

Michela

 (to be continued)

Australian journal 12 How to become a Wildlife Warrior Volunteer

 As the terms says you will be a “Real Warrior”, a “Wildlife Warrior“, who actively contribute in the daily care of injured and sick australian wild animals. At this point don’t be easily mislead, you will not be cuddling sick animals or taking photographs all the time….surprisingly 50% of  people applying for a volunteer post as a Wildlife Warrior has this expectation….The work that expects you is solid work helping out in the daily life of wild animal patients.

What do you do as a Wildlife Warrior Volunteer

The daily volunteer work I was involved was mostly focused on cleaning koalas enclosures and paste-feeding koala patients. Koalas represent the largest number of patients at the wildlife hospital in Beerwah and the bulk of work with the maintenance of the enclosures is done by regular volunteers. Everyone helps out according to his or her personal abilities and skills, however you must be prepared to take up some routine tasks as well as be confronted with occasional tasks according to the needs or emergencies that crop up in the daily life of the wildlife hospital.

Michela

 (to be continued)