A lace monitor discovered stuck in tar has been rescued and released thanks to the efforts of the Australia Zoo Rescue Unit and Wildlife Hospital.
Maddock, the lace monitor, was trapped between two 1000 litre plastic tanks of tar, suspected to have been dumped, near Ewen Maddock Dam.
Unable to free himself from the hazardous thick substance, Maddock’s body and limbs were completely coated, including one of his front limbs, which was stuck to his own body.
Erica Henning, Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital Rescuer said, “Given the situation, there was no way Maddock would have been able to escape on his own. The tar had him completely immobilised, and he was clearly fatigued.”
The rescue involved using a syringe filled with a mixture of dishwashing liquid and water to gently lubricate and free Maddock from the sticky substance. As he was slowly separated, his movements became more animated, which instilled hope for his rehabilitation. Once freed, Maddock was immediately transported to the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital for further specialised care.
Upon arrival, Maddock was bathed using oils such as olive oil, baby oil, and orange oil, carefully removing the tar from his skin. The process was time-consuming and had to be repeated two more times during his stay to completely remove the tar.
After spending 12 days at the Wildlife Hospital receiving treatment alongside lots of love and care by our veterinarian team, Maddock was cleared for release and returned to his home at Ewen Maddock Dam, which has since been cleaned up of the illegal, disposed waste.
Dr Ludo Valenza, Hospital Supervisor and Veterinarian at the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital, expressed her joy at the successful recovery. “We are thrilled that Maddock has made a full recovery and is now back in his natural habitat. Thanks to the dedication of the rescue team and the wildlife hospital staff, Maddock’s future looks bright.”
“This incident serves as an important reminder of the ongoing need for responsible disposal of hazardous materials to protect our wildlife and ecosystems. We are grateful for the support of the community in the cleanup efforts of the tar and the successful rescue and release of Maddock.” Dr Valenza said.
The Australia Zoo Rescue Unit is on the road seven days a week, responding to various wildlife emergencies. Acting as an animal ambulance, the team is dedicated to rescuing wildlife of all kinds.
To find out more visit wildlifewarriors.org.au.
