Hello Possum

May 26th, 2016

Dianne Pearson will care for an injured or sick native animal even when the chances of its survival is extremely slim.

Whether it be a 200 gram brushtail possum or a burnt joey from the Sampson Flat Bushfires, Dianne will try her best with each animal.

Dianne has lived on a two acre property in Lobethal for the past 14 years where she has been caring for animals which are usually brought to her attention by other Adelaide Hills residents.

Last year, Dianne received into her care a one week old emu who's dad and siblings had been killed in a vehicle accident.

Dianna called the emu Cecil and helped it to become strong and healthy.

“Emu babies usually rely on their dad for warmth,” Dianne said.

“They are self-sufficient when they come out of the egg but you still need to teach them how to eat and protect them from predators such as foxes.”

“Cecil was extremely friendly and loved cuddles.”

Cecil now lives at the Adelaide Zoo where Dianne works as a zoo keeper.

“I studied science and animal behaviour at Flinders University before doing a lot of volunteering work and securing a job in the native wildlife section,” Dianne said.

“I guess I have always been passionate about animals since I was a kid.”

Also a member of the Lobethal CFS, Dianne sometimes finds injured wildlife that have been caught out in natural disasters.

In 2014, Dianne found an injured possum while on CFS patrol during the Rockleigh Fires.

“I found a female brushtail possum which still had a joey in the pouch,” Dianne said.

“I cared for the possum and released it's joey back into the wild once it was old enough.”

Dianne also has fond memories of a 200 gram brushtail posssum which she named Scratty after the squirrel from Ige Age the movie.

“He was brought to me by someone that found him in a drain without his mum,” Dianne said.

“Now he's four years old, weighs two kilos and is doing well.”

Dianne said there have been times when other people, including vets have advised there is no chance of saving an injured animal, but with perseverance Dianne has witnessed all kinds of miraculous recoveries.

“I had a magpie brought in which had been hit by a car and I was told by my vet to put it down. They said it had brain damage but I thought the least I can do is try so I put it in a cage gave it anti-inflammatories and four weeks later I was able to release it and it flew off perfectly,” Dianne said.

I guess you get a lot of people saying what’s the point but I think it's important that every animal, native or not, has a chance to live – and plus I can't resist leaving them.”

“My main priority is to provide rehabilitation and relief for animals so that they can be released or sent to live in another rescue centre like Minton Farm.”

“That is the best feeling – releasing an animal.”


  Back