Woolworths & WIRES: A Partnership for Wildlife

Uno is so called as this little guy was the first grey-headed flying fox of the season to be rescued. Sarah is the first line of care for these very important, native Australian pollinators, often arriving to her as orphaned infants. Once strong enough, Sarah passed them on to another line of carers that prepare them for flight, before releasing them back into the wild.

Over the years Morgan rescued, fed and cared for many, many Koalas. A lot of them, like Roger, come into his care as they have Chlamydia, which is quite a dangerous and debilitating disease for Koalas. But with Morgan’s close medical care, and specialised feeding, he is able to often cure these animals and return them to the wild.

Meet Cuzzy the CusCus! Cuzzy was found as a tiny baby on a road between Marpoon and Weipa, and was rescued by Weipa Wildlife in QLD where he spent 3 months until he was big enough to be released into a wildlife sanctuary (Australia Zoo reserve). While in care Cuzzy loved to eat apples and blueberries, and lots of different types of veggies. Thank you Weipa Woolies for supporting Cuzzy and this amazing wildlife group.

Meet this stunning juvenile wedge-tailed eagle who was in care Staghorn Wildlife Shelter - who specialises in care for birds of prey. This magnificent bird was found on the road, weak and likely with an infection. After fluids, antibiotics and an all you can eat buffet, she was ready to go back into the wild. Being carnivorous, this bird eats animal products only. Thank you Woolies White Box, Wodonga for supporting this amazing wildlife group - your fruit and vegetable donations allow more resources to other species in care, like these amazing birds of prey.

Meet Merle, the world smallest possum weighing a tiny 8 grams or about the same as a teaspoon of sugar. Merle, who was first mistaken as a mouse, is an Australian species of possum called Little Pygmy Possum. He was in care after a bush walker found him looking rather unwell. Merle was later successfully released back into the wild, hopefully to start a family. Thank you Woolies for supporting amazing wildlife groups like Staghorn Wildlife Shelter.

Fun Fact: Little Pygmy Possums are the smallest possums in the world!

Meet Calypso, a grey headed flying fox rescued by Sydney Wildlife carer Diane during the catastrophic bushfires. Calypso came into care very malnourished and dehydrated. Thank you Neutral Bay woolies for donating fruit to this extremely important Australian species.

Meet Hewey, Lewey and Dewey the Pacific Black ducklings. These little ducklings were rescued by Kylee from Dutch Thunder Wildlife in Koonoomoo, VIC. They came into care from 3 seperate rescues. These little guys are enjoying a special diet, which includes fresh greens, corn and grated carrot from the Woolies Food for Wildlife program - Thank you Cobram Woolies!

Fun Fact: Pacific black ducks have a magnificent green speculum (patch on their feathers); this patch is best seen when the ducks are in flight!

Meet Baker and Brian, two adorable brushtail possums in care with Kate from ACT wildlife. These boys were found a few days apart in similar circumstances. Brian at 168gms was found in a backyard on a very cold and frosty morning, while Baker at 120 grams was found on a ladies verandah also a frosty morning, he was near frozen. The pics are of them now - much bigger enjoying the fantastic fruit and veg provided by Woolies (and the very hard work of Kim Butler who collects and distributes all the food!) Thank you Woolies Kippax, Erindale, Dickson, and Mawson!

Fun Fact: Brushtail Possums are different colours depending upon what climate they live in!

These three little Mountain Ducklings are in care at Staghorn Wildlife Shelter, Staghorn Flat, VIC after they were following chooks in Mountain Creek Tawonga - mistaking the chooks for their mum! After searching the area and local dams there was no sign of the ducklings parents, or the rest of the ducklings. While in care these little ducklings are enjoying some treats of water melon, Alfa sprouts and lettuce leaves supplied by the White Box, Wodonga Food for Wildlife Program - Thank you Woolies!

Fun Fact: Mountain Ducks are also called The Australian Shelduck, and when they are adults they are black, white and chestnut with a vivid green stripe across their wing!

This blue tongue lizard came into care at Staghorn Wildlife Shelter, Staghorn Flat, VIC after being attacked by a dog. Sadly, many lizards come into after dog attacks (please always keep your dog on a leash in bushland areas!). While she is recovering on antibiotics she’s enjoying some strawberries, bananas and berries donated by the White Box, Wodonga Food for Wildlife program - thank you Woolies!

Fun Fact: Blue tongue lizards are the largest member of the skink family!

This little guy is a blue tongue Lizard, they are omnivorous and in care eat a variety of fruits and vegetables sprinkled with a reptile supplement together with snails, crickets and mealworms. This guy came into AWARE after he was injured by a dog (please remember to walk dogs on a leash in bushland areas!). Thank you Baxter woolies for supporting AWARE life and providing grapes, berries, apple, broccoli, sweet potato, sprouts and melon for this cool little lizard.

Fun Fact: Their blue tongue is used to scare away predators like Kookaburras and snakes!

Currently Dutch Thunder Wildlife, Koonoomoo, VIC has a number of Bearded Dragons in care. They love their fruit and veggies that come from the Cobram Woolworth Food for Wildlife program. They also receive live crickets and mealworms while in care as well as specialised reptile food.

Fun Fact: Just like us Bearded Dragon’s will wave when they see someone familiar. This wave is to communicate passively or submission when they are in the presence of a larger, more dominant dragon.

These adorable little wood duck ducklings came into care at AWARE Wildlife, Frankston, VIC after they’d been separated from their family. You could liken them to the children who get lost in the shopping centre, when they get distracted and don't notice mum moves on. Unfortunately, mum duck sometimes doesn’t notice a duckling gets left behind. Once these little ducklings can fly at about ? about 8-10? weeks old they will be ready for release. While in care they are fed a duck mix with a variety such as greens such as, kale, spinach, lettuce, silverbeet and bok choy. Thank you Baxter Woolies for providing the greens!

Fun Fact: Males are called drakes, females are hens, and young are ducklings.

These beautiful cygnets entered care waterlogged and exhausted after they were washed down a creek after heavy rain. They are now in care with Gill at AWARE Wildlife, Frankston, VIC. Unfortunately the parents couldn’t be sighted so the next attempts to reunite them were unsuccessful. A swans natural diet is mostly plant material, shoots, grass and aquatic plants. In care they are fed a duck food mixed with greens. Thank you Woolies Baxter for providing the greens, which included kale, spinach, lettuce, silverbeet and bok choy.

Fun Fact: Black swans can live up to 40yrs!

This is Nikita, a black flying fox rescued from Centennial Park in Sydney by Sydney Wildlife carer Diane. He was very malnourished and dehydrated, but was nursed back to health, and successfully released back into the Wild. Did you know flying foxes are the largest flying mammal in Australia? Thank you Neutral Bay woolies for donating fruit to this amazing Australian mammal.