India, Oct. 14 -- There was a small avocado packing shed somewhere in Queensland, Australia. Soon it was taking in injured wildlife, including birds, possums, and koalas. That is how the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital began in 2004. The little shed was renovated by Steve and Terri Irwin in memory of Steve's mother, Lyn, according to Wildlife Warriors, the charity that supports the hospital. By 2024, the hospital had admitted more than 136,000 animals, and it all started with a simple idea: an animal in trouble deserves a chance.

Lyn Irwin was a pioneer in wildlife care and rehabilitation. Her dream was to build a facility that could look after wildlife in need. Steve and Terri turned that dream into a working hospital in Beerwah, Queens...