WIRES seeks more volunteers to help native animals like Kenny

Kenny being hand fed  (PHOTO CREDIT: Zane Fraser)

In late December last year a baby echidna was taken into care by WIRES Volunteer Ellen Kemp. The echidna puggle was nicknamed Kenny and weighed just 400 grams when he was found on the ground in Temora NSW according to Kemp.

 “He was covered in ants and wouldn’t have survived on his own,” Kemp said. “For the first few weeks I fed him specially formulated echidna milk from my cupped hand and housed him in a small tub of dirt complete with an artificial burrow."
 
Initially Kenny just ate and slept but by the beginning of February this year he became a little more adventurous and began investigating anything new that Kemp put into his enclosure.

“Kenny has tripled his size, now weighing in at 1200 grams and he’s become quite playful,”  said Kemp. "He’s quickly learning how to forage like a wild echidna and when I place logs in his enclosure he strips them and rips them up with his powerful claws - he's also rolling up into a self-protective ball if he sees any sudden movements.”

Kenny will be released into the wild in the near future - another WIRES success story thanks to Kemp’s dedicated care. 

WIRES Riverina branch is calling out for more volunteers like Ellen and is holding an accredited Rescue and Immediate Care Course (RICC) in Wagga Wagga on 21 May. Anyone interested in wildlife rescue and conservation or wanting more information on the course are encouraged to contact WIRES via email Training@wires.org.au.

“I find it really rewarding being a WIRES Volunteer, said Kemp. "I love our native animals and this is a perfect way for me to give back and help their survival in the wild for future generations to enjoy.”

For more information on the accredited WIRES Rescue and Immediate Care Course on 21 May at Wagga Wagga  please email Training@wires.org.au.

WIRES is celebrating its 30 year anniversary this year with the organisation growing from one branch in 1986 to 27 branches across NSW and 2500 dedicated volunteers today. To mark this milestone, throughout 2016 WIRES will be presenting Special Recognition Awards to individuals and companies that have gone that extra mile to help support and protect NSW’s native animals.

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