Recognise a Sick, injured or orphaned koala
It's not easy to spot a koala in the wild, it is even harder to tell if they need our help.
We can all play an important part in getting koalas the best care should they need it by learning how to identify a sick, injured or orphaned koala in the wild.
Sick or injured koala rescue
If you have seen a sick, injured or orphaned koala, or you are unsure whether or not the koala is unwell, please contact our hotline immediately. It is available 24/7. If possible, take a photo so we can check if the koala looks healthy and well or gives the impression of being unwell.
How to identify a koala in need of help
A sick or injured koala
Sick koalas can have red, swollen, pussy or crusty eyes, fur loss anywhere on their body, brown, stained rumps, an unpleasant smell, and their fur is often dry brown or matted. They may also have discharges from their mouths, ears, eyes or cloacas.
Sick koalas are often slow to respond, if at all, to humans and can be touched without responding. They are generally found low to the ground or on the ground except when moving between trees, and can stay in the same tree without moving for more than a few days. Their gait is abnormal or uneven, and they can be disorientated, walking in circles.
A koala sitting on the ground, unresponsive to what is around it, is a very sick koala and needs attention IMMEDIATELY.
Call our 24/7 Koala Rescue Hotline if you live in the Northern Rivers of NSW or your local wildlife organisation if outside this area – search online for your local wildlife organisation or check the IFAW Wildlife App which connects you with the closest licensed wildlife rescue group at the touch of a button.
CHLAMYDIAL CYSTITIS
Athena is being treated for chlamydia-related cystitis.
Jace had a wet bottom from chlamydia-related cystitis.
Chica's bottom was particularly bad - wet and brown stained.
CHLAMYDIAL CONJUNCTIVITIS
Little Thor was treated for chlamydia-related conjunctivitis.
Teddy was treated for clamydia-related conjunctivitis.
Levuka was very unwell with chlamydia.
CAR HIT
Clinton had a broken jaw following a car hit.
Gasket sustained injuries to his head following a car hit.
Gidja had some neurological issues following a car hit.
DOG BITE
Some injuries, such as bleeding from any part of their body or broken bones are obvious. However, some injuries, such as dog bites, are often not visible, but if there are dogs in the vicinity there’s always a chance that the dog (no matter how small) has bitten a koala. In these cases, contact you local koala rescue group immediately.
ORPHANED JOEYS
Koalas smaller than a soccer ball when curled up may be orphans, and need to be assessed by an experienced koala rehabilitator. Similarly, pouch or back young koala orphans, where the mother has been killed by a dog or car, need to be placed with an experienced koala rehabilitator immediately.
A HEALTHY KOALA
Healthy koalas have a thick, grey coat with white markings, bright eyes and a rounded full belly. They respond when startled, spend most of their time high in trees (not necessarily a koala food tree), move and climb well and have no discharge from their eyes, nose, mouth, ears or cloaca.
Healthy koalas have a pleasant koala smell and being wild animals, will bite and scratch if handled by humans. If they’re on their own and larger than a soccer ball, they’re adults. Koalas smaller than this on their own may be orphans and need to be looked at by an experienced koala rehabilitator.
report a koala sighting
Even if a koala is healthy, we would really like to have that information as it helps build our database of koalas in the Region.
We have a handy online form to Report a Koala Sighting built right into our website.
Supporters
Proudly delivered by the Northern Rivers Koala Partnership (made up of six councils and Friends of the Koala), and supported by the NSW Government, this initiative aims to unite communities in safeguarding koalas and their habitats.
