Hello from our Koala Kindy and Care Centre in the sunny northeast! We are now entering our busiest time of year as we progress through koala breeding season and head into summer. Summer is not only a busy time for koalas, it is also peak activity for travel due to summer holidays, which results in more cars on the roads and visitors to the area. If we could all work together to slow down, pay attention on our roads, especially to signage in koala hot spots and raise awareness in the community – it all has the potential to help.

Let’s start with celebrating the release of and imminent release of a few cuties.

Blossom

First up is Blossom who, if you remember was hit by a car, fracturing her femur two months ago. She had major surgery and has been rehabilitating with us here at Friends of the Koala since. Blossom’s x-rays look good and she is heading to soft release! Yay good onya Blossom!!

Shae and Soul

Shae and Soul are next in line for release! Shae, mum to Soul has been recovering from major abdominal surgery following injury that resulted from being struck by a car. She has been doing extremely well, her sutures have been removed and she has been given the all clear to go home with her joey Soul – amazing what a trooper!!

Rosie and Angelo

Next are Rosie and her joey Angelo who were admitted in late October. Rosie sustained injuries to her nose when she was attacked by currawongs (type of bird). The currawongs were probably protecting their nest. Angelo appears to be healthy and uninjured. Rosie’s nose is healing well and the swelling has gone down. So freedom is imminent for these two!!

Hobi

By now most of you have heard the wonderful news about Hobi’s kindy plantation release. The news is that he is very active and moving trees every day, learning how to be an adult koala and to live in his natural environment. The best news!

Gasket

We are relieved that Gasket’s weight has stabilised and he has been cleared to be released phew!

Dorothy

Dorothy is doing well and has completed her course of antibiotics for chlamydial conjunctivitis. We will retest her in a weeks time and also repeat bloods to make sure she is no longer anaemic.

Genie

Genie has also finished his course of antibiotics and we are awaiting his results to see if he can go home – the sooner the better for Genie who would very much prefer his own habitat.

Baby Cakes

Little Baby Cakes is doing well without her mum Valery. She has unfortunately returned a positive test for Chlamydia so is unable to join Honeydew in kindy just yet. Hopefully it won’t be long until they are roomies with the zoomies.

Honeydew

Honeydew is cruising along, eating lots of leaf and taking her milk and gaining weight – she is ticking all the boxes.

Bunja

We are also delighted with the progress that little Bunja has made in his recovery from serious eye and abdominal trauma plus nerve damage to his arm following a car hit. He has been moved to an outside enclosure and is climbing and moving well. His eye ulcer has resolved but remains quite cloudy so he is still receiving eye medication. We are all rooting for him – what a champ!

Tulip

Pretty as a flower – Tulip was attacked by a dog in early September and has been rehabilitating with us since. Whilst her abdominal bleeding has resolved, she has returned a positive test for Chlamydia and has started antibiotics. Hopefully she will recover soon and be on the road to release.

Livio

Livio is doing ok with treatment for severe chlamydial cystitis, we will continue his treatment and to monitor him – fingers crossed.

Wookie

Wookie is another male koala with chlamydial disease that includes conjunctivitis, cystitis and kidney disease, we are still delaying his antibiotic treatment until he is more stable.

Hotah

Hotah is yet another male who was admitted at the end of October with chlamydial conjunctivitis in both eyes. He has begun treatment and hopefully will be back to his old self in no time.

Bronson

Bronson is a three year old male who was recently admitted to our Koala Hospital following an attack by a dog. He has sustained injury to his right elbow and is receiving antibiotics and lots of TLC from his carers.

Athena and Thor

The last time this pair were admitted, Athena had sustained minor injuries to her legs when she became stuck on a fence. Her legs needed time to heal but they both returned positive tests for Chlamydia, received treatment and were released. Now they are back and this time Thor had fallen from his mums back, receiving injuries and has some bleeding in his lungs. He is also having a difficult time moving and climbing – poor bub. It took us a little while to reunite him with his mum Athena who didn’t want to come down from the tree. Fingers crossed like his namesake Thor is a warrior.

Thelma and Louise

Thelma and her pouch-young joey Louise who is approximately six months old were admitted to our koala hospital at the end of October when Louise was found on the ground. Thelma was nearby and responsive to the noises that Louise was making. Upon examination it was found that Louise was weak, hypothermic and dehydrated. She received fluids and we attempted to reunite her with her mum in hospital. Unfortunately, this didn’t work out and the difficult decision was made to separate them. Louise is now in home care with Liz who is providing round the clock milk feeds as well as lots of love. Thelma is still in hospital as we discovered that she has some kidney issues. She is receiving fluids to flush them as part of her treatment. Rescuing, treating and caring for koalas is not without challenges and we must do what we think is best for the survival of the pair – even if that means they are no longer a pair. We don’t know why Louise fell from her mum, maybe Thelma had a suitor, maybe she was an inexperienced as a mum or most likely of all Thelma was just too sick to care for Louise. We don’t know and all we can do now is give them both the best chance of survival.

Fudge

Fudge is an eight month old joey who was rescued at the end of October. His mum had been hit by a car and sadly didn’t make it. Luckily Fudge escaped with non-life threatening injuries but is now an orphan and will stay with us until she is big and strong enough to go it alone. She has a laceration on her right hand, which our vet stitched and she is in very good hands with Liz in home care, getting all the milk, leaf and TLC she needs.

The girls – Ivy, Charlotte and Polar Star

Our three golden girls are doing great and cruising along as usual, they enjoyed having little Hobi in with them – especially Charlotte. We know many of you hold a special place for Charlotte and Ivy and will try to get some more details from the carers about their goings-on.

It is so busy in our Northern Rivers Koala Hospital and we need all the help we can get, if you think you can help us in any way please do. Especially in the lead up to Christmas if you are thinking about gifting the animal lover in your life or looking for ways to live more sustainably. Keep an eye out for our 2025 calendars – they’re almost ready and are completely free to you – all you have to do is sign up and receive access to all 2025 calendars.

• Adopt a Koala
• Become a Friend of the Northern Rivers Koala Hospital
• Adopt a Tree
• Partner with us – perhaps you could donate a percentage of your Christmas sales to helping koalas in the Northern Rivers?
• Joey Buddies – perfect for young and young at heart conservationists!
• Donate – you can even donate in someone’s memory

If you would like to know more about how to protect koalas during breeding season – we have the following resources for you: koalas and cars, koalas and dogs, how to recognise a sick or injured koala.