Presented by Di Hakof, Zoos SA hosp manager, this presentation covers the kangaroo island bushfire response, difficulties and challenges faced, and also the positives that came out of this time
Hospital Manager/Senior Hand Rearing Coordinator
Zoos SA
Di has worked at Zoos SA for 28 years, starting as a casual zoo keeper and working in all areas of the zoo. In 1996 she began working part time in the Veterinary Department as a vet nurse eventually becoming full time in 2000. She has been working as the Hospital Manager for the past 12 years.
In January 2020 she was asked to go to Kangaroo Island with a vet and their CEO to assess the damage to the Island from the catastrophic bushfires that were currently burning out of control. They were there to assess if ZoosSA Veterinary Department could assist with the wildlife triaging on the island. They spent three days on the island but Di and the vet were put to work straight away assisting with anaesthetics and the never ending line of koalas that kept coming day and night. It was estimated that at one stage a koala was arriving every 45 minutes over a 24 hour period for many weeks. The devastation to the wildlife was nothing she had ever seen before. They spent 10 weeks assisting the wildlife and community in the rehabilitation of the wildlife that was severely burnt and displaced during this period.
