TigerLodge WildCare

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Speewah, QLD
TigerLodge WildCare

For emergency native animal rescue in Cairns and the Northern Tablelands please call 4093 0761.

TigerLodge Wild Care is located on the Northern Tablelands in Far North Queensland on a 5-acre property with dedicated pens and enclosures for the rehabilitation of native wildlife. Established in 2012 by owners Wilf and Patty, TigerLodge Wild Care is a sanctuary for injured and/or orphaned native species to recover and rehabilitate before being released back to the wild. The relief and recovery w

ork is ongoing, with Wilf and Patty attending rescues day and night and dedicating many hours to the treatment and rehabilitation of animals in care largely at their own cost. Wilf holds current wildlife permits under the 'Nature Conservation Act 1992' for “Species of least concern”, “Seabirds” and “Raptors” which covers most species of birds, mammals, and macropods. These permits are renewed every three years through the Queensland Department of Environment and Science and are issued based on current training and care practices. A purpose-built flight aviary for raptors was completed in August 2021. This page is to recognise and thank those who have gone out of their way to help wildlife that has come into care at TigerLodge. We have met many people who have gone over and above to help an injured animal either by making a special trip to get the animal to care or through donations of goods, services or funds to help support them whilst in care. Should you have any questions, please feel free to message

01/09/2026

There wouldn't be anyone with a sharper eye for wildlife than Wil & Mel's Wild-Life. My mate Wil is one of the drivers of the The Savannahlander taking visitors out west to see some of our natural beauty. Whilst he passes on his vast knowledge of country and animals, his eyes are always on the lookout for wildlife.

Whilst the train was moving along, Wil spotted this magpie and it didn't seem right to him. He wasn't sure whether it just caught some prey and was dancing around it on the ground or there was something more concerning going on.

Decision made - let's stop the train and investigate! By all accounts, the magpie didn't make it easy on Wil to get caught but a quick pursuit through the scrub and a dive to catch the bird was worth the effort. The magpie has a recently fractured humerus and we need to see what we can do for it.

For wildlife rescue call 4093-0761

29/08/2026

Look at what the cat dragged in! A young, Blue-faced Honeyeater.

Sadly, this isn't an unfamiliar reason for why we are getting calls for assistance.

Cat bites are particularly worrisome for wildlife (and humans) because cats have long and pointed teeth, penetrating deep into the flesh. Unlike dog bites, cat bites seal over very quickly as they don't crush or tear the skin but pe*****te it.

The bacteria in a cat's mouth are highly infectious and due to the needle like bites, the bacteria end up deep inside the tissue where it can thrive and develop into infections within a very short period of time. Without antibiotics, serious damage or death can be the result.

Do not wait to call a wildlife carer as these infections can take as little as 3 hours to occur and once it has set in, the survival rates reduce rapidly.

For wildlife rescue call 4093-0761

18/08/2026

Just a little reminder to everyone about the bird flu H5 virus!!

This juvenile Australasian Darter was spotted by a member of the public down at Lake Placid. The bird didn't move too well and could be easily caught. So this gentleman grabbed the bird and took it to his mate who used to be a bird carer to get his opinion.

All this happened with the very best intention however we don't recommend anyone taking this action for a number of reasons:
- If/when the H5 virus hits Far North Queensland it will most likely be in a water bird. So please don't come in contact with them.
- Long-necked birds like this darter aren't as innocuous as they seem. Their necks can extend very rapidly and the sharp and pointy beak can cause some serious injuries if not handled correctly
- Unless you are familiar with the type of bird and their normal behaviour it is difficult to judge whether they are in trouble. Darters are good flyers when their plumage is dry (you can often see them drying out on the edge of a body of water). They are also good swimmers and can spear fish under water. They can perch on a tree branch but they are not very good on their legs as they don't need to be.

So please call for help from a wildlife carer.

15/08/2026

This Papuan Frogmouth came into care after an apparent hunting expedition didn't go to plan. A member of public found the bird spread eagle on the ground with a little frog next to it.

Frogmouths are often mistaken for owls as they are also nocturnal hunters but lack the strong talons which are found in raptors. Frogmouths feed on insects, frogs, lizards and mice. They also have been spotted to sn**ch the occasional microbat.

After giving this bird some pain relief and keeping it in a warm, dark and quiet place, we gave it a good feed and the bird was taken to one of our flight aviaries to prove that he was ready to go.

On dusk we released the bird back to where he was found and he flew straight up to a familiar vantage point waiting for night fall.

For wildlife rescue call 4093-0761

11/08/2026

We've had a couple of enquiries as to how the little Lesser Sooty Owl is going 5 weeks after we posted it coming in.

After a rough start which would have delayed the development, the down is slowly replaced by the feathers which will make this owl much more easily recognisable.

It is currently mating and breeding season for owls which by design coincides with increased rodent activities.

A lot has been written about the suspended production of Second Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides (SGAR). Research has shown just how potent this poison is and accumulates in the rodents to a level where owls and other predators succumb to secondary poisoning.

Please, please wherever possible don't use rodenticides, the devastating effect on our wildlife is very real.

For wildlife rescue call 4093-0761

27/07/2026

No this isn't a cormorant nor a melanistic curlew!!!

This poor curlew is covered in oil from head to toe. Few things rile us more than having to attend a rescue that was totally preventable if it wasn't for some 🤬🤬🤬 who left a rather large quantity of oil uncovered for any wildlife to fall into.

Luckily the caring staff Hardware in Mareeba called us immediately when they spotted the bird who had been living in that yard with its partner for years.

We will do our best to give this bird another chance but as you can imagine being a feathered creature being totally soaked in oil is going to be a challenge.

Please consider our wildlife when leaving ANYTHING out and about.

For wildlife rescue call 4093-0761

24/07/2026

This White-bellied Sea Eagle has come into our care from Tolga. It was spotted by a member of the public as it tried to fly but couldn't get any elevation. Thanks to Trish from Tablelands Wildlife Rescue the bird could be captured and made ready for us to pick up.

The bird was badly dehydrated and needed fluids urgently. Upon closer inspection we found there was an injury to the wing tip which was a few days old.

Dr Adrienne at Kuranda Veterinary Surgery did an xray which confirmed the injury. Sadly the cause couldn't be determined but a bullet can't be ruled out 😡. We elected to give this bird a chance and the wound was cleaned out under general anaesthesia. Only time will tell if the bone will heal in a way this eagle can fly again.

Thank you so much to everyone helping our wildlife get a second chance.

For wildlife rescue call 4093-0761

15/07/2026

I guess the only thing we can do, is keep highlighting the fact that still far too many people don't stop when they hit wildlife or see it in the middle of the road.

Last night a member of the public was on his way home around 10:30pm when he spotted a dead wallaby in the MIDDLE of the road. He stopped the car and found that the pouch was moving. Unsure of how to deal with it, he called us to attend.

The mum was still warm and so was the joey when I got there. Things could have gone a totally different way if the member of public wouldn't have stopped as in the cooler weather the body temperature of both animals would have plummeted rapidly and we may not have been able to save little Diego.

For wildlife rescue call 4093-0761

03/07/2026

Let's hear some guesses of what this bird might become when it grows up. This little bundle of fluff came into care a bit worse for wear but at least still alive whereas its sibling wasn't so lucky as it had lost a lot of skin and far too graphic to show on here.

28/06/2026

I reckon Mother Nature had one of her better days when she created the Rainbow Bee-eater.

These swift flying little birds hunt during the day focussing mainly on bees and wasps but also are partial to other flying insects such as dragonflies, butterflies and moths.

In order to avoid stingers and venom they take their prey to a nearby perch, bashing and rubbing it against the branch.

Whilst they don't appear to be big eaters, they can consume several hundred insects per day making them a valuable bird in controlling insects.

With their bright colours they stand out to any predator from a long distance away and hence they need to be vigilant at all times.

For wildlife rescue call 4093-0761

Address

Speewah, QLD
4881

Telephone

+61740930761

Website

https://paypal.com/paypalme/tigerlodge

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