07/05/2026
It always saddens wildlife carers when an animal can’t be saved. In this work we see animals in pain, with broken limbs, disease, and severe trauma. We fight for every animal we can, but sometimes they simply cannot be saved. And that does break our hearts.
Sometimes we receive comments directed at carers asking why an animal had to be euthanised, or why more wasn’t done. The reality is that there are several factors we must consider.
WELFARE
The welfare of the animal must come first. Some animals are simply not viable. Tiny joeys removed from pouches may be so underdeveloped they cannot survive without their mother’s pouch conditions. Kangaroos rely entirely on their legs: fractures or dislocations often mean they will never survive in the wild again. Many animals develop stress myopathy from captivity, which can lead to a slow death. Wild animals do not cope well in confinement, and even with the best care they can injure themselves trying to escape. When we make decisions, we must consider how much pain, stress, or suffering an animal may endure.
FINANCIAL LIMITATIONS
Wildlife care is voluntary and largely funded from our own pockets, donations, and fundraisers. While our vets are incredibly supportive, surgeries and treatments are expensive. With so many animals coming through care, it simply isn’t possible to perform costly procedures on every case, especially when the outcome is uncertain or the recovery process would cause prolonged stress or suffering.
LEGAL REQUIREMENTS
In Victoria, wildlife carers operate under government licences and strict codes of practice. Wildlife must be returned to the wild: they cannot be kept as permanent residents or pets (except in rare endangered-species situations). If an animal is permanently impaired and cannot survive in the wild, it cannot legally be released. This is why animals such as birds with unrecoverable wing injuries are often euthanised.
TIME AND RESOURCES
Carers are ordinary people with families, jobs, and limited capacity. Some animals require feeding every two to three hours, around the clock. When carers already have dozens of animals in care, taking on cases with little chance of survival can mean another viable animal misses out on help. Burnout is also a real risk: and if carers burn out, no animals receive help.
“WHY NOT SEND IT TO A ZOO?”
Aside from legal restrictions, zoos and sanctuaries have limited space and resources. For example, if shelters across Victoria each receive a dozen unreleasable Wedge-tailed Eagles each year, the numbers quickly become impossible. A zoo might be able to take one or two... but not hundreds.
So before thinking that a carer is not trying hard enough, please remember that we always do everything we can, within the limits of welfare, law, resources, and reality. While it hurts to lose an animal, sometimes euthanasia is the kindest option for one that is suffering.
~Shelly
