As hail battered Brisbane’s west on Sunday, neighbours rallied online and urged one another to bring injured animals to Wacol, home to the RSPCA Queensland Wildlife Hospital and a lifeline for the city’s wildlife during emergencies.
Residents in suburbs including Brookfield, Karana Downs and Pullenvale reported rescuing lorikeets, possums and an ibis hurt in the storm, wrapping them in towels and contacting wildlife care groups for advice.
The storm on 26 October 2025 brought hailstones up to seven centimetres wide, causing major damage across Brisbane, Ipswich and the Gold Coast. While official reports focused on power outages and property losses, social media filled with calls for help for injured animals.
Locals were urged to take rescued wildlife to the RSPCA Queensland Wildlife Hospital in Wacol, which accepts drop-offs 24 hours a day.
Locals Mobilise for Wildlife Care
The 4069 region — covering Brookfield, Kenmore and Pullenvale — became an informal command centre for wildlife emergencies. One resident posted about an injured lorikeet found on a deck, while another described an ibis unable to fly near a creek crossing. Offers of help and transport followed within minutes, with residents sharing the Wacol hospital address and hotline number.
Wildlife groups such as Wildcare Australia reminded residents not to attempt feeding injured animals but to keep them in a quiet, dark box until they could reach a professional carer.
Froggy Creek and Other Sanctuaries Feel the Impact
In Karana Downs, the small wildlife refuge Froggy Creek — part of the Land for Wildlife program — reported storm damage to nesting boxes and surrounding vegetation. The caretakers posted online that they were thinking of others with property damage and of displaced wildlife seeking food and shelter.
Further east, the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary at Fig Tree Pocket confirmed on social media that it would remain closed on Monday, 27 October, due to storm damage. The post assured visitors that all animals are safe and well and thanked the public for their patience during cleanup efforts. The closure underscored how even well-established facilities were affected by the same wild weather that disrupted suburban wildlife.
A Reminder from the Past
Queensland has seen the toll severe hail can take on wildlife before. In October 2003, hailstones “the size of cricket balls” killed more than 100 birds and animals — including kangaroos, wallabies, pelicans and ibis — at the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary on the Gold Coast. According to an archived report, sanctuary staff described it as a sombre period as they worked to care for the injured and rebuild damaged enclosures.
That tragedy remains one of Australia’s starkest examples of how extreme weather can devastate native fauna. It serves as a reminder, two decades on, of why community rescue efforts and preparedness still matter.
Getting Help to the Right Place
The RSPCA Queensland Wildlife Hospital in Wacol remained the main drop-off point recommended by wildlife groups and community members. Volunteers reported multiple deliveries of injured birds and small mammals from suburbs affected by the storm.
Carers suggest residents prepare a simple wildlife emergency kit — a towel, gloves and a ventilated box — to safely transport animals after severe weather. Those who find injured wildlife can call 1300 ANIMAL (1300 264 625) for advice.
As cleanup continues, Brisbane’s western suburbs have shown that care for wildlife can be as instinctive as protecting one’s own home. Community posts and small acts of rescue proved that even amid chaos, compassion remains the city’s strongest force.
Published 27-Oct-2025
