Hello from the Northern Rivers where we continue to rescue koalas in the aftermath of Cyclone Alfred as well as clean up the destruction left behind. As our recovery efforts continue, we acknowledge our amazing heroes – our volunteers who stood strong, ensuring our koalas in need were reported and rescued under extremely challenging conditions.
They:
- Provided 24/7 commitment – through blackouts, power outages, and variable reception, they kept the lines open.
- Went above and beyond to cover extra shifts when it was too dangerous for many other volunteers to travel for faced storm damage themselves.
- Answered calls to travel to remote areas ensuring every koala sighting was logged for rescue.
- Made sure that the koalas that were rescued, were given life-sustaining treatment, food, water and shelter.
- Made sure that all of the koalas in our Koala Hospital and Care Centre had enough food.
- Dug in and assisted with the big clean-up operation.
No call went unheard. THANK YOU to our quiet achievers, the backbone of this effort. Your resilience and teamwork got us through.
Cyclone Alfred has torn through the heart of koala habitats, leaving behind destruction that has devastated our beloved koalas. Many have lost their homes, food sources, and, tragically, their colonies. Already facing the overwhelming challenges of habitat loss and climate change, these resilient animals are now at the mercy of this latest disaster. If you would like to help us provide emergency support, life-saving care, and long-term recovery for these incredible animals, we would be incredibly grateful for your support.
In the meantime, there are koalas who were with us before Alfred and patients rescued during and after the cyclone, some unfortunately didn’t make it, and live on in our hearts. Every single koala rescued matters.
Onwards to our Koala Kindy and Care Centre update and first up our releases!!
Baby Cakes and Pemulway
These cuties have left their soft release and are now free to hopefully live a long happy life in the wild with lots of joeys of their own.
Mars
Six year old Mars who was admitted with conjunctivitis and some minor kidney issues responded well to treatment and following a negative test was released back to the wild this week – yay!
BeeTee
We barely managed to introduce you to Beetee, a four year old male admitted in mid February with conjunctivitis and cystitis. He was treated and again responded well and following a negative chlamydia test also went home!
Which brings us to the Kindy Kids!
Fudge
Twelve month old Fudge was a mere 984 grams when she was admitted to our Koala Hospital back in October and now weighs in at a chonky 2.66kgs! She loves her leaf and is cruising through Kindy and is big enough to wear her ear bling (ear tag) which she totally rocks!
Pancake and Bindi
Pancake and Bindi continue to thrive in Koala Kindy and will be heading off to plantation in roughly two weeks time. You go girls!!
Reggae
Little Reggae has developed an infection and is now in our intensive care unit in our Koala Hospital. It isn’t obvious how she got the infection but she had lost a bit of weight and body condition. She also had a mild case of candida. Reggae is in good hands and has started on intravenous fluids, antibiotics and pain relief, fingers crossed for this little beauty. Please send lots of positive healing vibes her way for a speedy recovery.
Higgins
Little Higgins remains in Home Care with Liz, she is doing very well and loves climbing and exploring in her mini set up. She also loves her milk and eating lots of leaf – gaining quite a lot of weight since she arrived – it won’t be long until she is ready to join the big kids in Kindy! Way to go Higgins!
The Care Centre koalas
Kelly
Five year old Kelly was admitted at the end of January with cystitis. She was given antibiotic treatment, which she has completed and has returned a negative test for Chlamydia also. This beauty will be off home in the next couple of days! Live long and prosper Kelly!
Husk
Husk has tolerated his treatment and wound cleaning like a champ! He required a second course of antibiotics for his leg which is not uncommon for koalas who have an infection both in the bone and joint. In other species (including humans), this type of infection is treated with a combination of antibiotics for many weeks, but koalas do not tolerate that kind of treatment regimen. When treating koalas, we have to rely on repeat surgical debridement of the wounds combined with intermittent targeted antibiotic therapy to get them through. Fingers crossed for Husk!
Troppo
You might remember ten month old Troppo from our social media updates post Cyclone Alfred – he was found on the ground, assumed to have fallen from a tree in the chaos. No abnormalities were found on examination but we are keeping him in care for now for observation.
Cielo
Three year old Cielo was admitted in mid March with cystitis and conjunctivitis, she has begun antibiotic treatment and fingers crossed she will be on the road to recovery in no time!
Our three resident girls – Charlotte, Ivy and Polar Star are coasting along and all look their radiant selves – and why wouldn’t they with the amazing care and fresh leaf – we would do anything for our koalas because they are worth it all and more!
That is the end of our patient updates for this month, we do have other koalas in our care that we haven’t managed to report on at the time of writing but will hopefully have more news on socials and throughout the rest of the month – so stay tuned!
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