Download Wildlife in the clinic

Wildlife Act 1953
Purpose
The Wildlife Act deals with the protection and
control of wild animals and birds and the
management of game. Permits are necessary
to deal with certain wildlife.
Protection of Wildlife
Most native bird, bat, reptile and frog species are
absolutely protected.
Some land invertebrates and marine
species also protected.
 No-one may kill or have in their possession any such bird
or animal, unless they have a permit.
Some native and some introduced bird species have
limited protection to maintain their numbers while
allowing for some harvest or control.
Many common introduced bird and animal species
are not protected.
Schedules
To find what protection a particular species has, it is
necessary to consult the schedules to the Act to see
which, if any, schedule the species is listed on.
Holding Wildlife
The Act states who can hold wildlife.
People who rehabilitate wildlife need a permit from
DOC (Authority to Hold Wildlife Temporarily).
Individual animlas may be held for up to 3 months
during rehabilitation.
If longer is needed a new permit must be issued.
Rehabilitators are not allowed to keep animals
permanently.
In cases release is not possible then a permitted
captive home must be found or the animal
euthanased.
Conservation Act
1987
Purpose
The Conservation Act deals with what can and
cannot be done on conservation land.
It is relevant to rehab when the animals have
been collected from or will be released to
conservation land.
A permit from DOC is required to release
animals into National parks.
Wildlife in the clinic
Guidelines
Do what is best for the welfare of the animal.
If in any doubt consult DOC.
Make sure the animal has a place to go for rehab
after treatment.
Make sure the animal has a home after rehab –
either release or to a permitted facility.
Rehabbers
Pre-release care – continue bandage cahnges or give
meds while taking care of animals needs.
They will often bring sick/injured wildlife to you.
Have a good relationship with them and develop
clear boundaries about what the clinic can and
cannot do, and what costs might be involved.
DOC
Have the overall responsibility for wildlife.
Can help with advice on species ID, placement in
captive facilities, release locations, permitting,
nearest permitted rehabber etc.
Sometimes decisions will be made on the overall
conservation value of the individual and may clash
with usual clinic practice.
Discuss issues with them so you
understand decisions.
Contacts
DOC www.doc.govt.nz.
Ornithological Soc for species ID www.osnz.org.nz.
Wildlife rehabilitators Network www.wrennz.org.nz.
Bird rescue www.birdrescue.org.nz.
 In cases of possible disease outbreaks (more than 35 affected birds) report to MAF 0800 80 99 66.
Can we treat?
Do we have the equipment, skills and resources?
Is specialist equipment required?
Consider referral or seeking advice from a specialist
wildlife vets such as Massey university or zoo vets.
Are there resources for rehab?
If there are limited resources then it is better to
weigh up against the species
 Eg better to treat a kereru than a thrush.
Should we treat?
Assess if likely to:
 recover AND
 be released AND
 survive in the wild (will it be able to find
food/water/shelter) AND
 contribute to the population (will it be able to breed OR
serve a useful ecological function such as spread seeds).
If any of these are unlikely then the decision to
euthanse should be made. For rare species discuss
the situation first with DOC in case there are special
reasons to save the individual.
When should we not treat?
Consider the needs for the species – how does it
feed, fly, breed and survive in the wild
If the injury or illness will affect these release may
not be possible, euthanasia should be considered.
Consider:
Predators need both eyes to hunt
Birds that need to fly long distances for food.
Penguins need both flippers to hunt fish.
Small birds need flight to avoid predators.
Native birds to know own kind to breed so
imprinting of hand reared chicks is a problem.
Euthanasia
Information on humane euthanasia:
http://www.adeldaide.edu.au/ANZCCART/publications/euthanasia.pdf