Exhausted wallaby rescued by emergency services from floodwaters 20221020 p5ylng.html – Breaking News & Latest Updates 2026
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Exhausted wallaby rescued by emergency services from floodwaters

Allanah Sciberras

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A wallaby struggling in floodwaters has been saved near the border of Victoria and New South Wales as experts express fears thousands of animals could perish in the flood crisis.

The State Emergency Service (SES), Fire and Rescue and Surf Life Saving were patrolling the Murray River near Moama, which has been hard hit in the recent flood, when they spotted the marsupial swimming in rising waters.

The crews jumped into action and pulled the wallaby onto a boat, bundling it in blankets.

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A wallaby struggling in the floodwater has been saved by emergency services near the border of Victoria and New South Wales. Nine

Back on dry land, the wallaby was released and the RSPCA was called.

The rescue is one of many as emergency crews attempt to help "frightened, wet and exhausted" native animals attempting to flee floodwaters.

Across the border in Victoria, Shepparton local Justin Hunter felt helpless as he witnessed an echidna desperately trying to find higher ground as waters rose around the township on Sunday.

9News cameras captured the moments crews spotted the animal jumping through the Murray River. Nine

The echidna was seen struggling in Shepparton floodwaters. At one point it  tried to find purchase on a plastic water bottle.

The echidna was seen struggling in Shepparton floodwaters. At one point it tried to find purchase on a plastic water bottle.  Supplied: Justin Hunter

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Wildlife Victoria has received thousands of calls to help animals since the natural disaster struck.

The organisation has estimated wildlife losses to reach the thousands.

"What we'll expect to see once we can get in and have a look is literally hundreds, if not thousands, of kangaroos and wombats drowned, and other ground-dwelling species like echidnas," Wildlife Victoria Chief Executive Lisa Palma.

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There will be little relief for struggling animals, as Victoria and NSW remain in the firing line of another floods crisis with a dangerous weather system on its way.

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