Victorian floods take toll on wombats, possums and kangaroos in Echuca, Shepparton

Tragic scenes of Australian native animals rushing to flee rising floodwaters continue to occur as Victoria’s flood emergency mounts.

As residents of the border town of Echuca continue to sandbag the town, a video has surfaced of a wombat swimming through floodwaters on the outskirts of town.

The video was made by a Wildlife Australia volunteer – one of many who have flocked to northern Victoria to help rescue thousands of displaced animals.

Baby possums rescued by Wildlife Victoria in the floods

On Friday, Daily Mail Australia reported on the plight of wombats trapped in the flooding north of Melbourne.

One image showed the heartbreaking moment when a wombat and its little joey fled from the rising water.

The photo was taken by staff at the Molesworth Recreation Reserve and Caravan Park, just over 60 miles northeast of Melbourne’s CBD on the Goulburn River.

The fate of the wombat and his joey remains unknown, as the caravan park and its inhabitants battle a losing battle against rising floodwaters.

On Monday, more and more sad stories emerged, highlighting the plight of Victoria’s wildlife.

Photos of rumpled baby possums, soaking kookaburras, scared kangaroos and even homeless lizards have been posted on social media.

A wombat swims for its life after getting stuck in floodwater in Echuca

Wildlife Victoria has issued a call to help rescue animals entangled by the floods

In what could be considered rare good news under the animal crisis, a wombat named Selina has been found alive and well after escaping from her prison island in the Macedon Ranges – northwest of the CBD.

Selina had dug a hole in the high ground after being flooded in the area a few weeks ago.

That den had turned into an island over the weekend, with worries that she’d been wiped out.

Overnight, Selina and her boyfriend “Wimble” were captured on night vision cameras on dry land after somehow escaping their island.

A small wood mouse named Antechinus was not so lucky and remains trapped there until the water recedes.

Wildlife Australia has a appeal focused on raising funds that go directly to the Emergency Rescue Service.

The organization has a 24-hour telephone line so that the traveling veterinarians can respond to wildlife emergencies in the field.

A kangaroo finds a dry place to rest after escaping floodwaters in northern Victoria

Selina the wombat burrowed into the high ground as the water began to rise.

Selina was later spotted on dry land after escaping the island

The organization has received more than 1000 requests for help in the past 48 hours.

While Victorian Prime Minister Daniel Andrews announced on Monday a $351 million package to give regional Victorian communities the immediate support they need, the state’s nature must be left to itself.

On Friday, a Molesworth Recreation Reserve and Caravan Park employee told the Daily Mail Australia that the mother and Joey they photographed weren’t the only wombats rushing for their lives.

‘Everywhere wombats were looking for higher ground. It is a terrible situation with the Goulburn at the moment,” the spokesman said.

“Our entire park is under water and it’s getting deeper and deeper, so hope is quickly waning.”

Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp told radio 3AW on Monday that the flooding is expected to continue to cause chaos in the coming days.

“Echuca had its first peak, so that happened overnight, but as this water makes its way to Goulburn, it will see a second peak at Echuca Tuesday and Wednesday,” he said.

“Even though the water in Echuca is receding slightly, there are still major floods, there is still significant risk, but it’s the next peak we’re looking at.”

Mr Crisp said no disaster had been declared yet, despite the wild weather and flooding expected to last four to six weeks.

A local resident carries a sandbag through a flooded Shepparton street

Local residents prepare sandbags at Shepparton Showground