Possum suffers 11 hours of pain
AN elderly Rockhampton man finished up in hospital himself after spending 11 hours making 43 phone calls trying to save a dying possum.
This scenario made wildlife rescuer Kayren Chapman realise a lot of people still don't know who to contact when they find an injured animal.
She said the man found the possum that climbed onto his fence one morning earlier this year, after having been hit by a car.
Ms Chapman said because the man was over 80 years old, he was unable to drive the possum to the vet.
"He started calling people at 6am, but it wasn't until 3.45pm that he got onto me," Ms Chapman said.
"When I got there I had to call an ambulance for him because he was that distressed and upset."
Ms Chapman said the possum's skull had been crushed and it had to be put down.
"This poor, slowly dying male possum had suffered more than 11 hours of pain when it really shouldn't have," she said.
She urged people to take note of the 1300 ANIMAL number, set up by RSPCA Qld in an effort to simplify and expedite calls from people who find an injured animal.
For crocodiles, cassowaries, bats or any marine animals call 1300 130 372.
Ms Chapman said by calling the right number, people would reduce the time spent suffering by these injured creatures, such as baby Nipper.
"A sick animal, no matter how sick, will always seek attention," she said.
She urged anyone interested in becoming a rescuer or carer to contact the RSPCA.
