Victorian Wildlife Rehabilitation Guidelines

In Victoria, wildlife rehabilitation is defined as the process of providing appropriate care, including access to veterinary assessment and treatment and nursing support where required, to sick, injured and orphaned native animals, with the goal of restoring them to their natural condition and releasing them back to the wild.

Wildlife rehabilitation is undertaken by a diverse network of volunteer shelter operators and foster carers (collectively referred to as wildlife rehabilitators). They are supported by wildlife rescuers and registered veterinarians working in private practice or employed by zoos, sanctuaries and non-government wildlife and conservation organisations across Victoria. Effective wildlife rehabilitation requires considerable knowledge, skill and a willingness to learn. The Victorian Wildlife Rehabilitation Guidelines (the guidelines) have been created to:

support wildlife carers to understand current best practice in wildlife rehabilitation
assist with the administration of basic first aid
provide health care following veterinary instruction
provide information on species appropriate housing and nutrition
ensure environmental enrichment needs are met to result in the best welfare outcomes for the animals in care.

The Victorian Wildlife Rehabilitator Guidelines (the guidelines) have been prepared and reviewed by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), Zoos Victoria, members of the wildlife rehabilitator community and experienced wildlife veterinarians around Australia. The guidelines are designed to support wildlife rehabilitators to adhere to the conditions set out in the Wildlife Rehabilitator Authorisation Guide: Things you need to know. (Refer to Wildlife shelters and foster carers website for any updates).

Photo credit: Leah Wheatley

Part A: General Information

Chapter 1. Introduction	Page 4
Chapter 2. Welfare-based decision-making	Page 12
Chapter 3. Euthanasia of wildlife	Page 24
Chapter 4. Biosecurity and hygiene	Page 38

Appendix

Hand-raising Record-keeping Template	Page 52
Record Keeping Template for Visual and Physical Observations, Feeding and Medication	Page 54

Victorian Wildlife Rehabilitation Guidelines Part A: General Information (PDF, 7.6 MB)

Photo credit: Melinda Corry

Part B: Mammals

Chapter 1. Bandicoots	Page 2
Chapter 2. Dasyurids	Page 46
Chapter 3. Echidnas	Page 86
Chapter 4. Flying Foxes	Page 118
Chapter 5. Koalas	Page 156
Chapter 6. Macropods	Page 192
Chapter 7. Microbats	Page 244
Chapter 8. Native rodents	Page 292
Chapter 9. Possums and Gliders	Page 340
Chapter 10. Wombats	Page 414

Victorian Wildlife Rehabilitation Guidelines Part B: Mammals (PDF, 16.0 MB)

Photo credit: David Whelan

Part B: Birds

Chapter 1. General birds	Page 2
Chapter 2. Raptors	Page 76
Chapter 3. Waterbirds and marine birds	Page 144

Victorian Wildlife Rehabilitation Guidelines Part B: Birds (PDF, 13.7 MB)

Photo credit: Nick Clemann

Part B: Reptiles and Amphibians

Chapter 1. Lizards	Page 2
Chapter 2. Snakes	Page 38
Chapter 3. Turtles	Page 76
Chapter 4. Frogs	Page 110

Victorian Wildlife Rehabilitation Guidelines Part B: Reptiles and Amphibians (PDF, 11.8 MB)

Accessible word files

Part A: General Information accessible (DOCX, 436.7 KB)

You must comply with the conditions of your authorisation. These guidelines must be read in conjunction with the conditions of your authorisation. Wildlife shelters and foster carers website