In a tale straight out of a Christmas story, Matty Bennett and Rupert Noffs, owners of The Lucky Bee restaurant at Ettalong Beach, discovered a little miracle in their garden on the evening of Thursday, December 21.
Bennett and Noffs stumbled upon an abandoned baby fawn deer, which they aptly named Rudolph.
“The temperature had plummeted from 40-degree days to constant rain and bitter cold,” Bennett said.
“The deer was shivering and exhausted.”
Despite suggestions to leave him for his mother to find, they realised he wouldn’t have made it.
Rudolph was brought inside, laid under a blanket next to heater, and his shivering ceased.
“Even though deers are deemed feral, and love eating our veggie garden, we couldn’t just leave him out in the cold” Bennett said.
The men reached out to the Animal Referral Hospital in Gosford and found a lifeline for Rudolph.
The dedicated team provided Rudolph with overnight care, nursing the malnourished and hypothermic fawn back to health.
With resilience and care, Rudolph, now a symbol of hope, has secured a forever home with Debbie from the animal sanctuary Where Pigs Fly at Murray’s Run.
It is believed that Empire Bay was home to a deer farm over 20 years ago.
Following the owners’ departure, the gates were unlatched, letting the deer roam free.
Locals of surrounding areas frequently catch glimpses of deer, adding beauty to the landscape.
However, the presence of the deer raises concerns about potential damage to the local flora in the Bouddi National Park.
Julie from Wildlife ARC says “Whilst there certainly are unwanted feral deer populations on the Central Coast, this little baby will live out his life in safety, and without harming the environment,” a Wildlife ARC spokesperson said.
“My Grandpa, Reverend Ted Noffs, believed the bush is Australia’s spiritual church—a reminder of where we live and our connection to something greater,” Noffs said.
“Rudolph’s story reminds us that every life is worth saving.
“Now, we have new tradition—visiting Rudolph every Christmas.”
Thank you for sharing
this lovely story.
So good to read something nice in the news these days.