Thousands of animals have died in the recent Queensland and New South Wales floods, with rescue services unable to make it to all calls for help due to flooded and debris-blocked roads.
The RSPCA says it has received more than 620 rescue calls for animals impacted by the floods in the last week and is currently caring for hundreds.
Animal sanctuaries and other wildlife rescue services across the south-east have been swamped with calls, and have appealed to the public for funds, equipment and feed to help them with their response.
Despite the RSPCA's best efforts to help as many animals as possible, the organisation says a vast number haven't made it, eventually succumbing to injuries and exhaustion.
Spokesperson Emma Lagoon said animal rescue teams have been left devastated by the loss.
"We've responded to calls about wildlife and livestock that were impacted as well," she said.
"It's been a really tough time; we only have animal ambulance vehicles, so we're governed by the roads and conditions.
"We're doing our best to get to every rescue call out, and hopefully when these waters recede we can get to more calls outs.
She said the service is currently caring for many kangaroo and wallaby joeys, possums, birds and koalas.
"It's really impacting all types of animals," she said.
"Lots of joeys ... have been swimming through floodwaters and they're just absolutely exhausted.
"But we are seeing some survivors and our wildlife hospital is incredibly busy at the moment trying to help all the wildlife that we can."
No resources for large animals
Ms Lagoon says the service is having to redirect calls for help for livestock to the SES and local councils as it doesn't have facilities to assist larger animals.
"We definitely need more resources to be able to help larger animals, but we have been getting many calls (about them)," she said.
"So far the rescue teams have been receiving lots of calls from Logan, Scenic Rim, Toowoomba, Somerset, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Gympie council areas, so pretty much everywhere."
Livestock stranded, rescue centres inundated
Yesterday the team from Outback Spectacular on the Gold Coast undertook a rescue operation to relocate 23 horses stranded at a flooded property in Ballina, New South Wales.
Eight stockmen and women, along with a helicopter team and equine vet were flown to the area to wade the horses through waist-deep water to higher ground.
Graziers from Gympie to Lismore have made hundreds of calls for help to relocate thousands of livestock, some washed away in the strong flood currents.
Numerous dead livestock, including cows and sheep, were seen along the Gold Coast coastline earlier this week.
Meanwhile, animal sanctuaries and wildlife rescue services on the Sunshine Coast, including Wildlife Rescue Sunshine Coast and Twinnies Pelican and Seabird Rescue, witnessed their entire properties flood twice this week, ruining much of their feed and equipment.
Happily Heifer After co-founder Michelle Dranfield posted to social media saying 30 of their animals were also suffering health conditions and illnesses relating to the recent flooding.
The Queensland Koala Society is urging the public to keep an eye out for displaced koalas or isolated joeys during flood clean-ups, while Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary says it has seen a rush of patients in recent days.
Ms Lagoon wants anyone who notices an animal in need of assistance to call the RSPCA, a local rescue service or vet as soon as possible.
