Wild Island

Caring for wildlife is one of the most rewarding yet emotionally challenging experiences you can have. As a rehabilitator, you become both protector and observer, hoping to provide the best care while maintaining respect for the creature’s independence and natural instincts. The bond is even more profound when you’re dealing with an animal like Lucy, a Tasmanian Pademelon who came into care with us as an orphan.

This is Lucy’s story….

Lucy’s journey has been a rollercoaster of hope, fear, and ultimately, resilience. What began as a pretty straightforward rehabilitation case for a young joey quickly turned into an urgent battle to save her life when she was diagnosed with lumpy jaw, a condition that threatened her future and broke our hearts. It was a moment that challenged us emotionally and physically, but it also reaffirmed the strength of wildlife and the incredible bond we form when we dedicate ourselves to caring for wildlife.

Lucy first came into care as an orphaned joey, having lost her mother at a young age to a car strike. Like many orphaned animals, she was extremely vulnerable, needing lots of care, love and emotional comfort to help her adjust to life as an orphan. Lucy was buddied up with another Tasmanian Pademelon named Hector, a young male who was also orphaned. They quickly formed a strong bond with each other and became inseparable.

Life in care seemed to be moving in the right direction for both Lucy and Hector. But like many wild animals, their health can be unpredictable, and the next chapter in Lucy’s life would present a serious challenge.

We started to observe changes in Lucy’s behaviour. She wasn’t as active as before and seemed to be eating less. At first, we thought it might have been a minor illness or a seasonal change, but when her condition didn’t improve, we decided to take her to the vet for a check up. The diagnosis was much worse than we could have imagined: Lucy had developed Lumpy Jaw, a condition caused by an abscess in the mouth that is not uncommon in macropods. Lumpy jaw can be a devastating condition, often resulting in severe pain, difficulty eating, and potential long-term health problems if left untreated.

The reality of the situation was heartbreaking. Lumpy jaw is a difficult condition to treat, and without intervention, Lucy’s quality of life would deteriorate rapidly. The abscess needed to be surgically removed, or the infection could spread and lead to even worse complications.

As a wildlife carer, you always want to make the best decision for the animal’s future, but you also have to consider their quality of life. After consulting with an experienced team of vets who specialise in wildlife, we made the difficult decision to move forward with surgery. The vet was confident that, with the right care, Lucy could recover and regain her full strength. The key was to ensure that her quality of life post-surgery would be good enough to allow her to return to the wild where she belonged.

Before the surgery could take place, Lucy was placed on a 10-day course of antibiotics to reduce the infection. The antibiotics did their job, but seeing Lucy struggle with the infection during this time was not easy. She wasn’t eating properly, her energy was low, and her weight was reducing. We held onto hope that she would improve enough to make it through the surgery.

The day of Lucy’s surgery arrived, and we felt an overwhelming mix of emotions. As any wildlife carer will tell you, entrusting an animal to surgery is always fraught with anxiety. We knew it was the right decision, but we also understood the risks. After saying our goodbyes, we handed Lucy over to the team at Tasmania Wildlife Hospital, trusting them to do everything they could to save her.

The hours spent waiting were agonising. Every minute felt like an eternity. When we finally received the call that Lucy had made it through the surgery, we cried happy tears. The abscess had been removed, and the damaged teeth were removed.

In the days following surgery, Lucy was very lethargic but stable. The road to recovery wasn’t easy, Lucy needed constant monitoring and a quiet environment to heal. The first few days were particularly tough. Lucy’s appetite was slow to return, and she wasn’t moving as much as we’d hoped. But slowly, as the antibiotics continued to work and her body recovered, she began to show signs of improvement.

Her energy started to return, and within a week, she was eating more and moving around. It wasn’t an instant recovery, but every small victory felt like a giant leap forward. After a few weeks, it became clear that Lucy was on the mend. Once her weight stabilised and the infection was fully under control, we began preparing for the next chapter: her release back to the wild.

After months of care, monitoring, and recovery, Lucy was ready to return to the wild. She had regained her strength, and the quality of her life had improved enough that she could survive in the wild again. We found a suitable area on private land in Tasmania, an area with plenty of food, water and shelter, perfect for a Tasmanian Pademelon to thrive.

When Lucy was finally released, we watched as she hopped away. It was a bittersweet moment – filled with happiness for her return to the wild, it was also hard to let go. After everything we had been through together, she had become a part of our life. But we knew that this was the right decision. Lucy was a wild animal, and her place was in the natural world.

For several months after her release, Lucy was monitored from a distance. She had settled into her new home, and we were relieved to hear that she was doing well.

Then, a few months later, something truly special happened: a young joey was spotted in her pouch. Lucy had gone on to live as an adult pademelon, thriving in the wild and even starting her own family. It is a moment in time we will never forget – despite the rollercoaster of emotions. It reassured us that we had made the right decision. 

As we reflect on Lucy’s journey, we are filled with gratitude for the amazing team at Tasmania Wildlife Hospital. We will always be thankful for their support, and the care and compassion shown to Lucy.

Lucy’s story is a powerful reminder of the strength and resilience that exist within all of us. And despite facing such a devastating diagnosis, Lucy never gave up, we never gave up on Lucy, and her recovery is a testament to the power of hope, the importance of compassionate care, and the incredible will to survive.

Her journey also reinforces the importance of caring for wildlife—whether through rehabilitation or simply by providing a safe space for them to recover. In the end, it’s not just about saving an animal’s life; it’s about giving them the chance to return to the wild.

Watching Lucy’s recovery and her eventual success in the wild has been one of the most rewarding experiences. Her story is a reminder that with the right care, dedication, and a little bit of hope, even the most challenging situations can lead to beautiful outcomes.