Wildlife Health and Conservation Hospital

07/11/2025

We’ve recently had some well-meaning members of the public, wildlife rescuers, and rehabilitators arriving without prior notice or expecting weekend appointments. This can place a lot of pressure on our small weekend team.

We are open to the public Monday–Friday, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm for wildlife admissions and veterinary consultations, and we encourage you to bring wildlife to our hospital (particularly emergency or trauma cases) during these hours to ensure the animal can receive prompt and adequate veterinary care. However, on weekends, our hospital is NOT OPEN to the public. This includes any wildlife care groups, rescuers, or rehabilitators.

While a vet and nurse are on site over the weekend to ensure continuity of care for in-house patients, we kindly ask that you do not bring wildlife to the hospital on weekends unless prior arrangements have been confirmed. This ensures our weekend team can focus on providing the best care for animals already in hospital.

For emergencies, please take animals to your nearest veterinary clinic or VECA in Campbelltown, which operates 24/7. For non-urgent cases outside our opening hours, please contact a local wildlife rescue organisation such as WIRES or Sydney Wildlife Rescue for guidance and support.

Thank you for your understanding and for helping us provide the highest standard of care.💚

26/09/2025

17/09/2025

In August, our team had the privilege of presenting at the .ava Conference.

Associate Professor Annabelle Olsson, Hospital Director, presented at the Conservation Biology stream. Veterinarians Dr Aimee Deaves and Dr Sarah Foo spoke at the Unusual Pets & Avian Stream, showcasing the incredible work we do with wildlife every day.

Annabelle shared insights on “Topical tropical wildlife issues,” covering common presentations like orphaned joeys, avian trauma, stress-related illness, and animal attack wounds, highlighting management strategies and ethical considerations in wildlife rehabilitation. She also presented a second paper at the Conservation Biology stream on current research initiatives in Northern Australia and collaborations being developed with the University of Sydney.

Aimee’s presentation, “A day in the life of injured wildlife at a designated wildlife rehabilitation teaching hospital,” explored the journey of wildlife patients through our hospital, from admission and diagnostics to rehabilitation and release.

Sarah was also presented at the conference and was honoured to receive the Stephen Ross Memorial Scholarship for her paper on a challenging wombat case. The study detailed the complexities of managing a non-healing wound on an adult bare-nosed wombat, from thick skin to treatment costs, and the importance of sharing case studies to guide future care.

It was inspiring to see our research and clinical experience recognised, and to connect with other veterinary professionals passionate about advancing veterinary care for wildlife.

07/09/2025

Congratulations to Dr Sara Pagliarani, who’s been awarded the Wildlife Disease Association Australasia research award for her project investigating disease in wild wombats across New South Wales.

Sara’s project will use tissue samples from diseased wombats to explore how the microbiome and virome interact with disease, combining pathology and advanced metatranscriptomic sequencing to identify pathogens and immune responses.

As a Lecturer in Veterinary Pathology based at our University Veterinary Teaching Hospital Camden, Sara plays a key role in linking clinical cases with research and teaching. Her work examining samples from animals treated at our hospital not only drives new discoveries in wildlife health, it also helps train the next generation of vets and researchers to think critically, ask questions, and learn from every case.

This award will support pilot data that could lead to better diagnostic tools and a deeper understanding of disease in Australian wildlife. We’re proud to see Sara’s work recognised, and proud of the hospital’s ongoing contribution to conservation science through collaboration, research and education.

Wildlife Disease Association (WDA) Australasian Section

27/08/2025

Experience everything veterinary science has to offer at Open Day 2025! 🐾

Come and visit our Veterinary Science stall at the Science Hub for an exciting program full of hands-on activities, games, and info sessions where you can get your questions answered and see what it’s really like to study veterinary science at Sydney.

Learn about our University Veterinary Teaching Hospitals in Sydney and Camden and discover the amazing opportunities that await you as a future vet.

🗓️ Check out the full schedule: https://openday.sydney.edu.au/program/?area-of-interest=science

18/08/2025

Not every animal we treat can be saved — that’s the reality of wildlife care. But even in those moments, our hospital plays a vital role in shaping a better future for wildlife.

A young bare-nosed wombat recently came into care at our Wildlife Health and Conservation Hospital in Camden. Sadly, due to the severity of his illness, euthanasia was the most appropriate option.

During the post-mortem, pathologist Dr Sara Pagliarani from our University Veterinary Teaching Hospitals Camden collected intestinal tissue samples. These cells are now thriving in a lab at our Camden campus, thanks to Veterinary Sciences, University of Sydney postdoctoral researcher Dr Lee Campbell. They’re part of a growing living cell biobank that will help scientists better understand the immune systems of Australia’s marsupials — supporting research into disease, conservation, and resilience in our native species.

This is what makes our hospital unique. We’re not just treating wildlife, we’re working side by side with researchers to advance science, conservation and care for future generations of Australian animals.

🎥 See the cells in action: Dr Campbell has shared videos of the wombat’s intestinal fibroblasts moving and responding in culture. Sped up 16×, the video shows the cells just minutes after passaging: initially balled up and stressed, but already reattaching and extending cytoskeletal processes.

📸 Image: Bare-nosed Wombat, Vombatus ursinus. Image: Raz Brewer
© CC BY-NC 4.0

14/08/2025

Dr Alisdair Eddie, an intern veterinarian at the University of Sydney Veterinary Teaching Hospitals, has been in the spotlight after providing exceptional veterinary care for a young wombat battling mange and a large lump on his leg who was brought into our hospital by WIRES volunteers.

This challenging case brought together vets, nurses, and imaging specialists from two of our University Veterinarian Teaching Hospitals — the city-based University Veterinary Teaching Hospital Sydney in Camperdown and the Wildlife Health and Conservation Hospital in Camden.

By pooling their expertise, our hospital staff - including veterinarians, diagnostics, nursing teams, and behind-the-scenes staff delivered precise diagnosis and tailored treatment for this wild patient.

With treatment beginning at our Wildlife Health and Conservation Hospitals, the wombat was later transported to UVTHS, courtesy of WIRES ambulance, where a CT scan helped guide this patient's care. It was quite an unusual sight for our city-based hospital, which typically sees small domestic pets!

Dr Eddie, originally from South Africa, is on an Emergency/Wildlife veterinary internship shared between both hospitals. His work shows how close collaboration across our teaching hospital network combines exceptional animal care with hands-on training for future and early-career veterinarians.

We’re excited to share more on this extraordinary case soon.

06/08/2025

We welcome the announcement of Warranmadhaa (Georges River Koala National Park) — a vital step forward in protecting koalas and their habitat in south-west Sydney.

As the regions dedicated koala care centre, we see firsthand the impact that habitat loss has on native animals like koalas. Connected, protected areas like this help ensure our koala population can move, breed and survive safely in the wild.

Associate Professor Annabelle Olsson, Hospital Director of our Wildlife Health and Conservation Hospital says: "The WHCH welcomes the protection of this highly valuable corridor of land which is prime koala habitat. Many of the koalas seen at our hospital are victims of urbanisation which impacts their natural habitat and movements, leaving them vulnerable to vehicle strikes, dog attack and accidental relocation."

We commend NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and everyone involved in making this important progress for our region possible.

Read the ministerial media release: https://www.nsw.gov.au/ministerial-releases/new-national-park-to-protect-sydneys-largest-koala-population

📸 By Liz Arthur

10/07/2025

We’re hiring a Veterinary Nurse Unit Manager at the University Veterinary Teaching Hospital Camden.

This full-time role is ideal for an experienced nurse with proven leadership experience, ready to take the next step in a dynamic academic environment focused on clinical care, teaching and research.

You’ll stay hands-on with patient care while leading a team across equine, livestock, small animal and wildlife services. This role blends clinical expertise, team management and student teaching in a multi-species veterinary teaching hospital.

If you care deeply for animals and people and want to grow your skills while helping shape the next generation of vets, this is your opportunity.

Apply now: https://usyd.wd105.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/USYD_EXTERNAL_CAREER_SITE/details/Veterinary-Nurse-Unit-Manager_0136061-3?q=nurse+unit+manager

07/07/2025

At our Wildlife Health and Conservation Hospital, we’re proud to train the next generation of veterinarians in caring for Australia’s native wildlife, including our much-misunderstood bats.

Bats are vital to our environment. They pollinate native plants, spread seeds, and keep insect numbers down. But they can also carry Australian bat lyssavirus, a rare virus related to rabies that can be passed to humans through bites or scratches.

When bats arrive at our teaching hospital in Camden, our veterinarians and veterinary nurses who have appropriate vaccinations, training and experience in handling bats step in to provide care.

Our final-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine students observe from a safe distance. Throughout their course, they learn how to support this work using evidence-based techniques, correct use of PPE, and develop a strong understanding of public health, exploring the vital connections between animal, human and environmental health.

We also work very closely with experienced wildlife carers and rescue groups, such as WIRES, Sydney Wildlife (Sydney Metropolitan Wildlife Services), and others. These authorised responders are specially trained and vaccinated to handle sick, injured or orphaned bats. Their work ensures bats get the expert care they need, while reducing risk to carers, vets, and the community.

🔗 For more information about Australian bat lyssavirus, refer to this NSW Health factsheet: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/infectious/factsheets/pages/rabies-australian-bat-lyssavirus-infection.aspx

26/06/2025

This pelican was rescued by WIRES with support from local NSW SES volunteers, then treated at our Wildlife Health and Conservation Hospital for botulism — a serious illness caused by toxins that can lead to weakness and paralysis in birds.

Thanks to expert care, the pelican made a full recovery and was released back into the wild, healthy and strong.

It’s a powerful example of what’s possible when we work together. By combining local knowledge, emergency response and specialist veterinary care, we can give native wildlife the best chance to survive and thrive.

📖 Read the full story: https://www.wires.org.au/wires-news/collaboration-ensures-successful-release-for-lucky-pelican

26/06/2025

UPDATE: Pelican Suffering from Botulism Treated and Released!

A few weeks ago, WIRES volunteer Inga, with help from local SES volunteers, rescued a pelican from Harrington Park Lake in South West Sydney.

The poor pelican was suffering from botulism and required specialist treatment to have a chance at recovery.

It was rushed to the University of Sydney’s Wildlife Health and Conservation Hospital Camden, where it received expert, round-the-clock care.

On arrival, the team administered pain relief, placed an intravenous catheter for fluids, and set it up with supportive warming and bedding. Bloodwork confirmed botulism, and treatment included fluid therapy, nutritional support via tube feeding, and close monitoring by final-year vet students.

Each day brought signs of recovery: lifting its head, standing, paddling, and finally eating independently. After 14 days, the pelican was strong, mobile, and ready for release.

Inga returned to release it back to its natural habitat — a true rescue success made possible by collaboration.

Huge thanks to everyone involved for their skill, care, and dedication!

For a detailed account of the pelican's rescue and treatment, follow the link below⤵️
https://www.wires.org.au/wires-news/collaboration-ensures-successful-release-for-lucky-pelican