Home on the range: Sporting Shooters Association’s Paul Schefferle with Leopold wildlife shelter’s David and Helen Burrell after the release of an eastern grey kangaroo.
JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
A LITTLE River shooting range has successfully become an unlikely venue for returning native animals to the wild.
Leopold Wildlife Shelter arrived at Eagle Park shooting range again this week to release four eastern grey kangaroos, four possums and a swamp wallaby after nursing them since birth.
The shelter has an arrangement with Sporting Shooters Association of Australia to use the range.
The shelter’s Dave Burrell and wife Helen have run the shelter for almost 30 years, rescuing 1500 animals annually.
“It’s fantastic to have somewhere like Eagle Park to have a safe and controlled release of the animals,” Mr Burrell said.
“It’s a soft-release spot where the animals can be watched and checked up on for a week to make sure they’re not struggling.”
Mr Burrell said the shelter had been involved in the development of the wildlife area of the range from the beginning.
“The animals are free to leave there and go wherever they want to go. All our releases there have been successful.”
Eagle Park manager Paul Schefferle said the long-standing arrangement was part of the range’s environmental efforts.
“Our members are involved in conservation because they understand the relationship with the land,” he said.
“It’s a moving experience to see people who have spent hours and hours with these animals release them back into the wild.
“It’s like seeing a mother let go of her child but the work they do behind the scenes is phenomenal.”
Mr Burrell said the shelter had assisted more than 30,000 animals over the years.
“It’s a happy-sad day because you do become attached, even though we’re professional.
“They would have died without our intervention, including one of the eastern greys found caught in a fence upside down.
“She was borderline. The vets had to decide whether to euthanize her or operate.
“She was in a porta cot for a month recuperating but she’s come through and now she’s ready to go with the rest of them.”
Mr Burrell said anyone finding injured wildlife could call the shelter on 0409 002 258.
