Recently, Mel received an urgent call from Wildlife Victoria about a distressed Wedge-Tailed Eagle running near a busy road in the Eastern Suburbs. Thanks to Warren, the kind caller who provided detailed location information, she quickly located the injured eagle in a paddock, sitting on a log and clearly in pain.
With a large, thick blanket, she safely secured his talons and carried him to a soft carry crate, covering his head to reduce stress. She noticed a severe leg wound and body swelling. Before they closed, time was ticking to get him to the experts at the Australian Wildlife Health Centre at Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary.
The dedicated team at Healesville Sanctuary stayed back to receive the eagle. After sedation and thorough assessment, including x-rays, they found his right talon was beyond use, and had also sustained a fractured coracoid and clavicle bones. The infection had set in, making rehabilitation impossible. The kindest act was to euthanise him while still under sedation, ending his suffering.
Thank you to Warren for his crucial call, Wildlife Victoria for managing the rescue, and the Australian Wildlife Health Centre at Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary for their expertise and compassion.
A huge thanks to our volunteer rescuers for their commitment to this challenging rescue.
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