Charlotte Varcoe
A YOUNG rakali is now in the care of Mount Gambier Wildlife Carer Julia Dangerfield after being spotted floating down a river in flood affected areas.
Ms Dangerfield was travelling when she received the call about the native animal and detoured an hour to go and pick him up.
Naming him Hippo, the rakali will remain in Ms Dangerfield’s care until he is ready to be released into the wild.
Currently weighing 63g, the wildlife carer said he could grow to as big as 1.3kg
“I had someone contact me about him when a member of the public was seeking help,” Ms Dangerfield said.
“He was found floating on the river on a bed of weeds just clinging onto it and although it was a sad sight, he was lucky to have been found.”
Ms Dangerfield said Hippo was put in her care with a dry umbilical cord still attached and his eyes still shut, making her think he was only a few days old.
“I have never looked after a rakali before and I don’t know many people in Australia, let alone South Australia, who have as they don’t come into care very often,” she said.
“The concept of caring for him is the same as other native animals which means keeping him warm and secure with natural housing, feeding him every other hour and keeping good hygiene.
“He is just a lot smaller than other animals.”
Ms Dangerfield said despite enjoying looking after Hippo, she was aiming to have him fit and healthy enough to release him at the two-month mark.
“We try and keep releasing them as naturally as possible and in the wild they become independent around the two-month mark so that is what I’m aiming for,” she said.
“I am excited about looking after him because the rakali is a particular animal I have always wanted to rehabilitate so I was lucky I had an idea on how to look after him.”
She said despite being commonly known as a ‘water rat’ Ms Dangerfield hoped she could now educate the broader community on the rakali’s importance in the environment.
“Rakali’s are basically the Australian native otters because they are quite similar in behaviour and diet,” she said.
“They are very unique and primarily feed on muscles, prawns, water insects and frogs so they do eat meat but they are also good little hunters and very good for the ecosystem.
“They live in every state and territory in the country so they are very widespread and they even live down here in the South East at the Glenelg River and the Valley Lakes but most people don’t notice them.”
