A short-beaked echidna rescued in the Central West during the bushfire emergency earlier this year has a new lease on life after being rehabilitated at the Corrective Services NSW (CSNSW) Wildlife Care Centre.
Senior Overseer at CSNSW, Ian Mitchell said the echidna, Bluey, was underweight and dehydrated when he arrived at the wildlife centre in Windsor in Sydney’s north west.
“Bluey was found by a Corrective Services Industries driver along the Great Western Highway at Marrangaroo in early January,” Mr Mitchell said.
“With a bit of TLC and a diet of mealworms, crickets and plenty of fresh water, he bounced back,” he said.
“Following his recovery, I released him into the Blue Mountains last month with plenty of natural bushland to live out his days.”
Mr Mitchell said at any one time, there were around 250 animals housed at the wildlife centre and cared for by highly-trained overseers and carefully-selected minimum-security inmates from the Outer Metropolitan Multi-Purpose Correctional Centre.
CSNSW Commissioner Peter Severin said the rehabilitation and release of Bluey was a perfect example of how CSNSW staff come together in times of need.
Commissioner Severin said it was great to see the compassion of staff at the wildlife centre and corrective services industries.
