Thanks to advances in veterinarian surgery, it's now possible to scan the brain of a sea lion, insert a contact lens into the eye of a rockfish and perform live-saving surgery on a koala hit by a car.

These are just some of the amazing stories recorded by crocodile hunter Steve Irwin and the veterinarian team at the Australian Wildlife Hospital, led by Dr Jon Hanger, for "New Breed Vets", an entertaining series that debuts at 8pm tonight on Animal Planet (UBC 26).

Irwin set up the wildlife hospital two years ago in the compound of his Australia Zoo in Beerwah, Queensland, not only to help save sick beasts from his own facility but also care for injured animals elsewhere.

Not only do these modern-minded vets assist animals Down Under, they also set out on journeys to help unfortunate beasts around the globe.

In the first episode "Tsunami", the cameras follow Irwin and his team as they bring care and supplies to tsunami-hit Banda Aceh, where elephants are helping to clear debris.

As the tuskers try to drag rubble from the ruins, they often injure themselves by stepping on sharp objects, which can cause severe wounds.

With assistance from Hanger, German vet Dr Christopher Stremme, who has volunteered at numerous zoological and wildlife rehabilitation centres around the world, treats these giant creatures so they can continue to help the tsunami victims.

According to Hanger, the hospital's patients are usually injured animals found within 300 kilometres of the zoo, in Queensland and neighbouring New South Wales.

Calls for assistance increased dramatically after programme's airing in Australia.

"We get e-mails from all over the world asking for assistance but unfortunately we can't help them all," says Hanger.

"But we're always happy to give advice," he adds, saying that working with Irwin is a dream come true.

He laughs off suggestions that the crocodile hunter's exuberance can be intimidating, stressing that Irwin is simply passionate about all animals. The larger-than-life TV host is indeed full of enthusiasm when we meet him at the zoo the next morning, even though he has obviously only just got out of bed. "No, I don't sleep in khakis but in 'New Breed Vets', did you see me out of khakis? I was very uncomfortable," he says by way of greeting. In a slightly quieter voice, Irwin explains that doctors are learning that medical procedures for wildlife are applicable for humans and vice versa.

"The thing that was stunning to me was seeing vets in Singapore treating lame elephants with acupuncture. It was working. I saw it with my own eyes," adds Irwin enthusiastically.

Posters of Irwin are everywhere at Australia Zoo. There's even a look-alike character walking around playing with kids like Mickey and Minnie at Disneyland and there are Irwin toys at the souvenir shops.

Visitors are also encouraged to take a guided tour of the wildlife hospital.

Hanger says: "Southeast Queensland is a rapidly growing area. They are using bulldozers to clear the bushlands and that's having a major effect on the wildlife."

All the patients are given a name, which ensures they are treated like people. There are several koalas, mostly traumatised after being hit by cars during land clearing or attacked by dogs. Wisla is a three-year-old koala who has gone blind after a dog attack.

There's a bird which severely wounded its foot when it got stuck in barbed wire, a malnourished sea turtle on a drip, suffering with bad gas in its stomach which prevented it from diving to the ocean floor for food and then there's a pelican in intensive care. But Irwin is already talking about his new project.

"We've just signed up for an Imax film, the 3D Imax. Imagine me in a 3D. That's going to be great. We've got the crocodiles that we've got to catch.

"I want to put the whole world inside the croc's mouth. I just have to work it out with the cameraman and get everything in me but you'll see it in 3D," he says.

We can hardly wait.

Kreangsak Suwanpantakul

The Nation