The animal ‘residents’ at Kanyana Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre have been digging in to some extra food over the past few months thanks to the City of Subiaco’s Parks team.
As part of its maintenance program, the team donate excess ‘green waste’, including leaves, brush, and blossoms, to the rehabilitation centre in Lesmurdie.
In addition to the green waste, the team also keep an eye out for other things that might be suitable for the animals while they are working around the City.
The green waste is dropped off to Alice Tippetts, a Kanyana volunteer who lives in Shenton Park. Alice has been a volunteer at the centre for the past three years, and part of her duties include placing branches, blossoms and bushes into animals’ cages to help them feel more like they are in their own natural environment.
Alice says, “The City of Subiaco Parks team started gathering peppermint gum trimmings in November 2022 that I could take up to Kanyana each week. This came about as Kanyana took on the long-term care of a ringtail possum named Tien Di (who was born at Perth Zoo), and she would only eat this plant and nothing else.
“Over the last few months, the City have expanded their support for Kanyana by also bringing blossoms to help other creatures. The other volunteers are so thrilled by the items that I bring in, and are extremely grateful for it.
“I thoroughly enjoy seeing the creatures tucking into it – it makes my role feel more worthwhile.”
Kanyana has 56 animal ‘residents’, and handles close to 3000 admissions per year, spanning birds, reptiles, and mammals like quendas and possums.
Alice emphasised that the animals are always appreciative of the City’s donations.
“Kep, our resident Carnaby cockatoo, literally said ‘thank you’ when I turned up at his cage with the banksia flowers – he demolished them in no time at all.
“The resident possums, Pirate and Blossum, certainly pop their heads out when they smell the blossoms despite being the middle of the day. They normally sleep all day.”
Bliss Brosnan from the City of Subiaco’s Arborist team is pictured above with Alice.
Above: Kep, the Carnaby cockatoo.
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Above: Blossum the possum.