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The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included. |
Rescued animals refers to: | native wildlife rescued from the wild: amphibians birds mammals reptiles. |
OHS risks when working with animals may include: | animal bites, envenomation, kicks, scratches and crush injuries biological hazardous waste and sharps disposal handling of chemicals and medicines inhalation of aerosol particles intraocular contamination manual handling, including carrying, lifting and shifting needle pricks and cuts from other sharps release of infective agents (animal and human) slippery or uneven work surfaces zoonoses. |
Personal protective equipment may include: | animal handling gauntlets boots gloves hessian bags to wrap around arm long-sleeved and legged clothing safety goggles. |
Disease control procedures may include: | appropriate reprocessing of reusable equipment aseptic technique environmental controls (e.g. design and maintenance of premises and cleaning) isolation/cohorting personal hygiene practices especially washing and drying hands (e.g. before and after animal contact) safe handling and disposal of sharps and other clinical, related and general waste surface cleaning and management of blood and body fluid spills techniques to limit contamination use of personal protective equipment. |
Initial animal emergency care may include: | clearing animal's mouth and nose to assist breathing applying pressure bandages to stem external bleeding supporting bandages to immobilise fractures observing injuries treating dehydration providing warmth and comfort for shock. |
Seriously injured may include: | bleeding evidence of poisoning or pain missing fur or skin obvious head injury paralysis puncture wounds seizures visible limb or wing fractures visible trauma and/or bruising. |
Information may include: | exact location where animals were found date and time of collection presence of other animals known circumstances conditions including weather human activities in the area. |
Problems associated with animal care and orphan rearing procedures may include: | behavioural changes changes in urine or bowel movements feeding problems humanisation loss of weight malnutrition parasitism poor animal husbandry practices poor nutrition standards stress-induced conditions trauma. |
Captive diet considerations will include: | ensure captive diet is similar to the natural diet for the species to: minimise the impact of captivity stimulate normal digestive function provide suitable quantity and appropriate quality of food and water for the particular species in care to ensure: maximum potential for healing and recovery from wounds and injuries growth of young animals maximum development of natural survival techniques seek advice from knowledgeable person when caring for a species unfamiliar to the carer. |
Common problems experienced by rescued animals may include: | age-related health conditions bloat changes in behaviour changes in urine and bowel movements cloacal prolapse dehydration discharges feeding problems, including milk aspiration and decreased appetite fight injuries fur loss general ill health heat stress humanisation lethargy loss of weight malnutrition parasitic burdens stooped position stress trauma zoonotic and other diseases. |
Recovery procedures may include: | 24-hour care for young animals accessing veterinary care and administering medication as directed applying relevant husbandry standards to ensure pathogens are not contracted cleaning eyes dressing wounds feeding and hydrating integrating with other same-species animals minimising stress providing warmth releasing animals to the natural environment if permitted by relevant legislation removing domestic animals from wild animals' presence. |
Facilities and organisations involved in animal rehabilitation may include: | animal shelters captive animal government bodies fauna parks independent bodies volunteer groups/individuals. |
Processes may include: | recording data: animals' weight estimated age and sex location where found history of animal care, if applicable in the case of deceased animals processes may include: following recommended industry guidelines for necropsy requirements labelling and recording the circumstances of death. |
Documentation in relation to rescued wildlife that must be maintained includes: | individual animal identification where possible health history if applicable reports to relevant government departments of species of threatened wildlife or unusual animals held approval of shelter operators for any release of rehabilitated wildlife yearly returns to relevant state or territory bodies detailing the survival of all wildlife held. |
Options for release considerations may include: | animals readiness for release: age, sex and health status of animal ability to establish a home range need for social interaction availability of suitable release site other habitat considerations (e.g. current stock density, availability of natural food and water) practicality of releasing animals into the area where they were originally found. |