WIRES- Australian Wildlife Rescue Organisation - is the largest wildlife rescue organisation in Australia and has been rescuing and caring for sick, injured and orphaned native animals for over 35 years. They are based in New South Wales, but provide wildlife information and education to the community nationally and give financial assistance to wildlife rescue organisations across Australia.

WIRES was there during the disastrous bushfires of 2019/20, working across all the fire areas and helping in local wildlife rescue efforts at the time and in the aftermath, for instance helping to set up a wildlife refuge on Kangaroo Island where up to 40,000 animals were lost in the fires there.

They do a fantastic job and have a lot of information on their site, a blog and you can sign up for email newsletters. It’s worth a look for anyone interested in Australian wildlife and rescue.

In response to the first day of

kat_lair

Steam, thick and heavy in the morning air, drifted down in curling tendrils around them as they walked from the front door and James looked skywards, caught by the shadows drifting in stately parade across them.  A floating flotilla sailed high overhead, blocking out the sun as they passed. Clippers and brigantines, schooners and converted warships all crowded together so that it seemed every inch of the sky was filled with bright white sails and dark hulls, all fighting for space. Even a Chinese junk or two zipped in, out and around its larger companions like fleas about a dog. It was the Great Annual Steamship Race gliding over Oxford, all seeking the valuable prize offered for the fastest and the best.

James hesitated on the top step and looked at the array above him, his eyes stinging from the miasma the ships created. He thought about digging his aviator goggles out of the inner pocket of his jacket and began to reach for them, But Robbie was already on the street and grinning back at him, making ‘come on’ gestures, and the sight of him made James realise he didn’t want goggles after all.

And for Squee here's a photo of a baby spider monkey taken at Gorge Wildlife Park earlier this year during a brief period of open borders and no lockdowns.