The Wildlife Clinic is purpose built to care for Phillip Island's sick and injured native wildlife and is Victoria's only specialised seabird rehabilitation centre. Starvation, road trauma, pet or feral animal attacks, oil spills and boat trauma are common causes of admittance to the Clinic. The Wildlife Clinic provides access to offsite veterinary care and treatment when required. The ultimate aim of wildlife rehabilitation is to return healthy animals to the wild so they can resume life without further support.
The Wildlife Clinic opened in 2011 after state of the art renovations funded by the Penguin Foundation, the clinic continues to receive funding through our Adopt a Penguin and Knits for Nature program as well as Phillip Island Nature Parks' ecotourism activities.
Caring for sick and injured native wildlife
In 2014-15, the Wildlife Clinic cared for 134 little penguins with malnourishment, abrasions, cuts, broken and damaged limbs continue to be the primary cause for care. 334 animals other than penguins were treated which includes animals from 52 different species and is more than double the long-term average of 170. We also saw some international visitors swim in, including a Rockhopper penguin.
Knitted little penguin jumpers
|Penguin jumpers are adorable but they are not a fashion statement
Knitted penguin jumpers play an important role in saving little penguins affected by oil pollution. A patch of oil the size of a thumb nail can kill a little penguin. Oiled penguins often die from exposure and starvation. Oil separates and mats feathers, allowing water to get in which makes a penguin very cold, heavy and less able to successfully hunt for food.
When oiled penguins are admitted to the Wildlife Clinic at Phillip Island Nature Parks, a knitted jumper may be temporarily placed on the penguins to prevent them from preening and swallowing the toxic oil before they are washed and the oil removed by staff.
Read more about the benefits of using penguin jumpers when rehabilitating oiled little penguins here. 438 little penguins were affected by the last major oil spill near Phillip Island in 2001. Of those, 96% were successfully saved with the help of penguin jumpers, rehabilitated at the Wildlife Clinic and released back into the wild.
|The Knits for Nature penguin jumper program
Knits for Nature begun after a number of oil spills near Phillip Island in the late 1990s to early 2000s, due to the kindness of knitters world-wide the program has been so successful that it is now closed. We have received tens of thousands of little knits and have more than enough to use in the event of an oil spill. The program continues to support little penguin conservation on Phillip Island in a number of ways. The Penguin Foundation raises vital funds for little penguin research, conservation and the wildlife clinic through the sale of little penguin jumpers we receive that are the wrong size, shape, type of wool or in excess. These can be purchased at the Penguin Parade gift shop and are part of our Adopt a Penguin Pal kids pack. We have a good stockpile of jumpers suitable for rehabilitation purposes which we can also distribute to other wildlife rescue centres where need be. Little penguin jumpers are also used as an educational tool to teach students and others about the devastating effects marine and coastal pollution has on wildlife and the environment.
The Knits for Nature program is closed. Please note that we do not require any further penguin jumpers at this time.
Thank you to keen knitters and those who have contributed to the Knits for Nature program so far by donating little penguin jumpers for penguin rescue in the event of an oil spill, fundraising and education programs. Your interest, time and efforts are greatly appreciated by us and staff who work closely with these special birds. We are currently working through jumper donations and will be in touch via post or email (whichever details have been provided) with an acknowledgment as soon as possible.
The Wildlife Clinic
In 2011 the Penguin Foundation contributed $350,000 to the construction of a new Wildlife Clinic.
The new Wildlife Clinic contains:- Two outdoor pools controlled to mimic ocean temperatures and salinity
- A washing room in the event of an oil spill
- Separate intensive care and triage room
- Several large outdoor pens
To support the Wildlife Clinic you may consider adopting a penguin, donating or becoming a member today!
To report sick or injured Phillip Island wildlife:
7:30am to 4pm daily: contact Phillip Island Nature Parks on 5951 2800. 4pm - 7.30am (After Hours) daily: contact Wildlife Victoria on 1300 094 535. Cases, including emergencies, can also be logged at wildlifevictoria.org.au.
The Wildlife Clinic is not equipped to house or rehabilitate seals. Most seals are best left alone to give them a chance to rest and recover.
Approaching seals - advice from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning: "Seals often lie on beaches or other areas to rest or moult. This is normal. Sometimes they can also look injured when they are actually not. For example, seals secrete a watery substance from their eyes which is often mistaken for crying or an injury, but it is a natural mechanism to protect their eyes.Seals are also regularly bitten or scratched by other seals. Such wounds heal quickly and don't need human help."