Burn out.........

http://www.abc.net.au/environment/articles/2010/11/16/3067698.htm

The above article draws attention to the problems about beating ones head against a wall. It shows that as wildlife carers and those trying to point out that we should care more for our environment we can easily become discouraged and finally give up the fight for the animals of Australia and the world environment for which we are possibly the only champions.The politicians are the champions of money, thinking that if people have money to spend they will be happy, or if not happy, at least too busy to see what is happening all round them. That seems to have been proven by the decades where the people of western countries at least, went about their business of shopping rather than questioning. Then came peak oil and such things and still there was no outcry or change of attitude that can be measured. Climate change, and the planet continues to be ravaged, and not many curbing the excesses and we keep rolling the careless juggernaut powered by greed, onward over the very things that might just save some of our animal, insect and plant species.

The people of each country kill creatures that it considers pests and looks to other countries to stop killing the animals they consider pests. The lines are blurred, because there are few who really understand the role of pest and native animal, and have no idea which is which. While we who know the difference in many cases just filter this through the simple and best formula, being that all animal species are precious and that if they are not native to a country, might be all that survive because they are extinct in the habitat from whence they came. A justification for zoos? Hardly; but it does mean that zoos might become the repositories of an animal species that would otherwise no longer exist, even if it is a pale thing to the one that roamed wide landscapes or swung through and fed in trees that may also no longer exist.

Is there any wonder that wildlife carers and people concerned about the environment become despondent and eventually fall through the cracks created by developers and politicians?

Fire aftermath....... fight or flee...

The Royal Commission into Bushfires saw fit to retain the flee or flight policy that has always been in place in Victoria. In my opinion this was the best possible outcome, as evacuation is never the best option for more reasons than I will mention here. There are dwellings and settlements in this state, and probably others, where the road is like a pipe, and where the residents would have to traverse along it with trees on either side. This could be very hazardous and as seen by the 2009 bushfires, and could leave people exposed between the burning trees on either side of the road, within their burning cars, if the fire takes a turn unexpected and unpredicted.

In a compulsory evacuation scenario there is no leeway. The decision to evacuate might be made by a person who gets it wrong, and this could cause all manner of problems, so instead of getting people to safety, people could be sent into danger, and instead of individuals being injured or dying, masses could perish. Another problem with evacuation is that each persons circumstances are different, causing more headaches for those responsible for the evacuation. Some people can leave in a moment, while others would take ages to put in order the things that will give peace of mind. There are animals to consider for some, while possessions are the main reason for people to be reluctant to leave their places of residence. Evacuating too early places a greater burden on catering and leaving it too late has been mentioned above.

Choice has been retained with fight or flee, and choice is the most important element in every matter of life. No one has been told they must remain with their property, and even insurance companies are willing to pay out if people leave their homes and property to the mercy of fire. So people may leave if they wish, and many will do so, valuing their lives before their property and some cases even their pets. If timing is the main factor that could result in disaster, then this could be misinterpreted by the individual or the professional responsible for evacuating people.

The situation with fires that consume forest and suburb is, that nothing is certain, and that can be seen where houses remain standing, untouched, and yet everything around them has been burnt, and for this reason there can never be a hard and fast rule that would apply to all people.

Further to the joys of caring....

Someone wrote about the joys of caring for wildlife and being close to releasing same and I replied:

There we have it, a description of one of the greatest pleasures bestowed upon us as wildlife carers. The never ending and ever new wonder of another creature like and yet different to ourselves and much closer to the source trusting us with everything they hold dear, their lives. Believing in us, demonstrating their form of affection, believing we'll not only understand but also appreciate its magic. No strings, ties of any kind from carer or cared for, and this “freedom to leave” is what makes it bitter sweet and so very precious.

Be it the walking with possums, wallabies or wombats weighing in at almost 20 kilo's over territory you hope they'll like and remain in when they decide to leave. Noticing all the nuances and requests that are made during the hour or two doing this pleasant morning and afternoon ritual. Waiting while the territory is marked, over the top of another wombats marker. Waiting while feeding on some long tendrils of native grasses that appear to have popped up over night. Feeling the teeth scraped across the top of the boot saying, “move on, I'm finished here”. The jumping round, head up, indicating that it's play time and wrestling with someone who has no handles, just a pushing and shoving match. As the light strengthens and after a time the sun peeps over the mountain and bathes us all in light as we move in the direction of home.

It's a pretty special experience that never tarnishes or loses appeal, and adds poignancy to the moment when they walk away without so much as a look back over the shoulder. Off to explore a larger world. Happy knowing they have bolt holes and burrows of safety in this known territory. Then so much skin tingling pleasure when after some months they are espied by accident, going about their business as if they were raised by their natural mothers.