Pythons, echidnas, owls, peregrine falcons and ducklings were just some of the wildlife Kirsty Ramadan took into her house to save from the rising floodwater at Bunbartha.
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Ms Ramadan runs Bohollow Wildlife Shelter, and as the water crept up around the property, she took many of the animals and birds into her house, which is on higher ground than the animal enclosures.
Less than one kilometre from Loch Garry, Bohollow was well in the firing line of the floodwater after all the bars at the loch were not able to be removed and the levee was breached.
“For us, it happened quickly,” Ms Ramadan said.
“We didn’t have much time to prepare.
“Wildlife is not easy to pick up and leave.
“We worked around the clock to make sure things were up high.”
Ms Ramadan had an initial evacuation plan, but when it did not work out, she decided to stay on her property with the wildlife.
She worked flat-out to prepare some of the enclosures at the property to ensure birds were safe, placing lots of logs on the ground so if birds became wet or fell into the water, they would be able to safely get themselves out and to a drier spot.
The eagles were among the birds to remain in the enclosures — although they had to be moved into a second enclosure as the water rose — while the emus were left standing in knee-deep water, as it was the best that could be done for them at the time.
Owls had initially remained in their enclosure; however, nine owls had to be pulled out of it at 3am and moved inside on one night.
“I left things out as long as I could because of the (small amount of) room inside,” Ms Ramadan said.
She said when the shelter was under evacuation she released some of the birds back into the wild.
“I let out a lot of things that were not quite ready — but they could fly,” Ms Ramadan said.
“That was all I could do for them.”
It was a physically and mentally draining few days, as floodwater continued to impact the shelter.
“It’s all been a bit hectic,” Ms Ramadan said.
“For three days there was no sleep because we were watching the water levels.
“Even when I couldn’t keep my eyes open, I would set my alarm (to do the next check).”
Supplying the animals with special wildlife food was also difficult at the height of the flood.
Ms Ramadan thanked the people who picked up wildlife food in Shepparton and drove it to the Bunbartha community centre where she was able to collect it.
The shelter ran out of fresh fish to feed the rehabilitation pelicans — but Ms Ramadan took heart when she found they had managed to catch fish to feed themselves in the flooded paddocks.
The entire 13.7 hectares of the sanctuary went under water, with the exception of Ms Ramadan’s house and backyard.
As well as dealing with her own flooded property and the clean-up that entails, Ms Ramadan has been fielding calls to help sick and injured wildlife elsewhere in the region.
“The number of wildlife calls has been staggering,” she said.
“As soon as the threat died down from here, we were called out constantly to rescues.
“There have been kangaroo call-outs, a baby galah, and lots of snake calls.
“They are all seeking high ground.
“A lot of animals are displaced and in areas they shouldn’t be.”
Ms Ramadan, and Deb Fowler who runs Bohollow Wildlife Shelter’s Kotupna property, had been keeping an eye on, and dropping hay to, kangaroos at KidsTown between Shepparton and Mooroopna.
Ms Ramadan urged people to be mindful of animals and reptiles that were still displaced by the floods.
“Look out on the causeway for echidnas,” she said.
“There are lots of snakes on the road, as well as the roos.
“As the water levels go down, those roos will be moving out of there.
“Particularly at night and in the morning, even though it is back to 80km/h, be vigilant.”
If anyone wants to donate to help the wildlife work that Ms Ramadan and Ms Fowler do, you can find all the details on their website at bohollowwildlife.com
Senior Journalist