WHAT ARE PEOPLE DOING TO HELP

While things look grim for the koala, there are many people already helping to ensure that this beautiful native animal survives for future generations. Many local koala groups are keeping vigilant in their area about destruction of habitat and are taking care of sick, injured and orphaned koalas so that they can be released back in the wild where they belong. However, we must ensure that koalas and other healthy animals have undamaged habitat to live in. There is little point in making a koala well, only to release it back into damaged habitat or habitat which is at risk of destruction, if we aren't at the same time doing everything possible to preserve what habitat remains. It is very likely to come back injured, sick or dead at a later date.

WHAT HAPPENS TO SICK, INJURED OR ORPHANED KOALAS?

If the animal is found, it is taken into care by a koala carer. Carers must have a permit from their state wildlife authority as koalas are 'protected' by law. Sick animals can be treated with drugs like diluted antibiotics, and injuries such as broken legs can be splinted. Taking care of a sick or injured koala is a very specialized job and carers devote a lot of time and attention to making the animals well enough to return to the wild. Orphaned koalas require a huge amount of attention to raise. When very tiny they require constant feeding and care. Many of the Carers have given years of their lives to raising sick, injured and orphaned animals. It is a labour of love. There are special koala hospitals to treat the large numbers of distressed animals forced to run the gauntlet of cars, dogs , swimming pools and other dangers associated with koalas in suburban areas. As the habitat shrinks, more and more koalas will be coming in to care.

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