Injured goanna seeks out vet at celebratory event

[depakid]

IN SAFE HANDS:TV's Bondi vet Chris Brown and WIRES' Gary Pattinson inspect the goanna.
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AN INJURED, malnourished and tick-afflicted goanna was in the right place at the right time when it gatecrashed an event at Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden, St Ives.

Almost on cue, the 1m lizard with an injured leg struggled into the centre where Wildlife Information Rescue and Education Service was staging an event celebrating its life-saving work with native animals.

The WIRES event highlighted the importance of retaining and replanting lost native habitat to give wildlife the best chance of survival in an increasingly urban environment. Host Chris Brown, of Channel 10’s Bondi Vet, and others present, were surprised by the additional guest. Halfway through the proceedings, the sick and injured goanna lumbered through the grounds in obvious need of rescue.

With Dr Brown on hand and skilled reptile rescuers present, the goanna was examined then placed in a bag to be taken away for treatment. Dr Brown observed that the lizard was very underweight and was heavily infested with ticks.

The lizard was treated with antibiotics and kept in care by WIRES North Shore member Gary Pattinson until it fully recovered. It has since been released in to the wild.

More: http://north-shore-times.whereilive.com.au/news/story/goanna-seeks-out-vet-at-celebratory-event/

[xchrom]

1. A lovely bit of Serendipity. Nt

[Bobbieo]

3. Temporarily takes our minds off the Gulf mess. Thanks!!!

[petronius]

2. Smart lizard!

I never would have thought that reptiles could get ticks - I would have guessed that their skin was too resistant. But I suppose if Australia can produce meter-long lizards, then Aussie ticks must be equally imposing... :)

[depakid]

5. Like everything else in this country

the ticks are indeed... imposing.

The Paralysis or Scrub Tick is found along the Eastern coast of Australia and lives on Bandicoots and Possums causing them no problems as they have acquired immunity. The tick attaches to dogs and cats as they brush past foliage in bush land, near creeks or even in your own back yard. They are particularly evident on warm days when it has rained previously. Once they attach at a suitable site they begin to engorge with blood and after adequate feeding will start injecting a potent toxin. The season is August through until February but they have been found nearly all year round.

More: http://www.vetstop.com.au/info/tick.asp#The%20Tick

[petronius]

6. Whoah, awesome!

I do believe I'll pack a kevlar body-condom if I ever make it to Australia... :)

[TheMadMonk]

9. 1m is just a baby, for goannas.

Our spiders have fangs that can penetrate a leather workboot, or big toenail.
Cockroaches the size of playing cards.
Tiapans, king browns, red belly blacks.
Lots of nasty, nasty fishies.
Irikanji and box jellyfish.
6m Salties. (croc.)

And ask Sylvester about our mice.

[jberryhill]

4. St. Ives?

Are these things native to England?

[Posteritatis]

7. Different St. Ives. (nt)

[jberryhill]

8. Kits, Cats, Sacks and Wives...

Oh, there's one in Scotland?

[depakid]

10. The one in Cornwall is beautiful

Across the peninsula from Penzance.

[jberryhill]

11. I've gathered that the OP bears some relation to Australia

But clues are sometimes helpful.

[depakid]

12. "clues are sometimes helpful"

:)

Here ya go:

These lizards live in the UK:



The ones in Oz get a little bigger: