Home > About the Emergency Phone

The Emergency Phone is Wildlife Victoria’s 24-hour emergency telephone service for people needing help with injured, sick or orphaned wildlife.  Emergency Phone operators are volunteers trained to give advice on what to do with native Australian animals in need of care. We have an established, comprehensive system to respond to all manner of wildlife rescue calls and utilise an extensive network of volunteers, government agencies, zoos, emergency services, and private commercial operators.

The Emergency Phone takes over 20 000 calls per annum facilitating the best result for wildlife that has been injured or displaced through human activity, road trauma, feral animals, tree felling, land clearing, pollution, bushfires and oil spills.  The Emergency Phone often takes calls from people with orphaned wildlife.  A mother killed by car accident can often still have live young, protected from trauma, still in the pouch. Emergency Phone operators can arrange for a licensed shelter operator to care for the orphan until it can be released into the wild. 

The the Emergency Phone network is utilised by government departments, zoos and sanctuaries, veterinarians, councils, police and other emergency services and the general community.

The Emergency Phone number is listed in phone books, council reference books, can be found on road signs, it is given out by other animal welfare services including the RSPCA, the Department of Sustainability and Environment and is kept in the memory of many mobile phones in case of emergency.

If you need to arrange care for an injured, sick or orphaned native animal then call the Emergency Phone on 13 000 WILDLIFE or 13 000 94535.

The Emergency Phone does not receive government funding, if you would like help support this vital service please donate now. Donations over $2 are tax deductible

 

Training

Emergency Phone operators are volunteers who work a roster system to cover the Emergency Phone 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.  Emergency Phone operators pick up their shifts at home, directing the phone line to their home numbers.  Emergency Phone operators receive extensive training and manuals to help them with their important work.  If you are interested in becoming an Emergency Phone operator then contact us for more information.

Rescuers and Transporters

Emergency Phone operators often need to arrange rescues or transport for an injured, sick or orphaned animal.  If you are interested in helping Wildlife Victoria by rescuing and transporting animals then contact us.  You will receive training on how to handle wildlife in the safest and least stressful way for both the rescuer and the animal.  For more information, see our Rescue and Transport page.