There is growing concern that a disease of poultry- avian paralysis - is possibly spreading on Magnetic Island , oft described as Townsville's jewel in the crown. Another outbreak of a similar disease in Lorikeets is also worrying .
There have been reports that adult Bush Stone Curlews in growing numbers are having difficulty standing, falling over and dying. If avian paralysis then it is worrying for the island's birdlife in general.
In the case of Lorikeets , instances of encephalomyelitis , known as clenched foot syndrome , have been noticed by wildlife carers. As the name implies the afflicted birds have tight, bunched up claws.
This disturbing situation comes after threats to the Koala population, the subject of a recent report by The Guardian Australia .
Magnetic Island boasts the largest number of free roaming Koalas in the North , yet they are succumbing to a variety of ailments, dog attacks , recently the shortage of food and water due to the long dry spell .
The island's wildlife organisation , MIFCO, run by a small band of residents , received a call from a concerned person who had seen a Koala on a road . On investigation by MIFCO , it was found to be a Koala, a baby on its back , licking water off the road from a slight shower.
Last week a distressed female Koala, above , was found , its eyes full of green ants , the fur about its face looking as if it had been charred by fire, possibly even exposed to acid. The Koala had been seen high up a tree the day before , frequently brushed a paw across its face .
The following day , obviously in trouble, the Koala was on the ground .The frequent "waving " of its paw the previous day obviously due to attempting to wipe the green ants away from its face .
Wrapped in a towel , it was brought to the blog , its eyes mere slits, still with green ants attached . When Koalas are run down green ants attack them . After the ants were removed , Linda Wootten of MIFCO , run off her feet answering calls , retrieving a wide variety of wildlife , looking after many of them in her own residence, was contacted . She took it home, where it later died before the Koala Hospital could have a look at her . Recently the Koala Hospital had seven Koalas in its care , two recovering from dog attack , one with green ant eye injury .
Eucalypt leaves were being brought in from Townsville by the Sealink ferry service to feed Koalas , the island unable to do so .
Eucalypt leaves were being brought in from Townsville by the Sealink ferry service to feed Koalas , the island unable to do so .
Ms Wootten explained that during dry periods on the island, with little water available, leaves did not contain much moisture. Old male Koalas , prone to kidney problems, were unable to flush their kidneys.
Recently, in response to a telephone call , she retrieved an Echidna in trouble , its feet and the tip of its snout red . Instead of being curled up into the usual defensive spikey ball, it was half open . Placed in a pen with a container of water , the anteater eventually waddled over and lay in the water for two hours , after which time the redness had gone from its feet and snout . It then proceeded to scratch a hole in the portable pen- indicating it was revived and ready to go bush .
Stray dogs have been seem roaming about houses in Nelly Bay in recent days ; a cat was seen sunning itself in a nearby shopping centre and it is not clear if the island now has a pound keeper as the Townsville City Council gave the long running catcher the chop .
It has been obvious for a long time that that the wildlife carer set up on Magnetic is inadequate , in need of an overhaul, greater coordination and better facilities . There is a heavy load placed on MIFCO members . There needs to be a greater involvement by the state government which has National Parks and Wildlife Department staff and facilities on the island . You have MIFCO having to even organise the burial of a large dead turtle on a beach .
Apart from the threat of possible avian paralysis, a major problem on the island is the paralysis of the government and the Townsville City Council to come to grips with the wildlife situation. Telstra is also part of the problem as part of the island has a lousy , infuriating phone and computer service , which not only affects Ms Wootten's rescue operations but other residents transacting their businesses .
