KOALAS IN THE WIDE BAY BURNETT Wildcare Australia & Wildlife Rescue Fraser Coast Joint Presentation
• Our organisations • Overview of Rehabilitation Causes and Issues • Statistics on Koala Rescues in Wide Bay Burnett / BMRG Region • Locality case study.
What is Wildcare? A group of people who care • Established in 1992 • Operate a 24 hour/7 day emergency telephone service to facilitate the prompt rescue of wildlife • Train volunteers in all aspects of the rescue and rehabilitation of wildlife • Promote the protection of natural habitat • Educate the general community in all aspects of wildlife and their needs • Operates predominantly Gympie south to Border & out to Toowoomba.
Wildlife Rescue Fraser Coast • Alliance of privately permitted rehabilitators and those permitted under ANARRA. • Operate a 24 hour/7 day emergency telephone service to facilitate the prompt rescue of wildlife • Promote the protection of natural habitat • Educate the general community in all aspects of wildlife and their needs • Operates predominantly in Fraser Coast region.
Rehabilitation Volunteers • Must hold a “Specialise Koala Rehabilitation Permit” • Must complete regular training • Generally care for wildlife in “home - based” facilities • Work closely with our partners: – Queensland Environment & Heritage Protection – Currumbin Wildlife Hospital – Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital – RSPCA Queensland – Local veterinary surgeries
Aim - To rescue, rehabilitate and release back to the wild
Koala Rehabilitation Causes and Issues
Why do our koalas need us? • Road trauma • Domestic animal attacks • Disease • Entanglement • Orphaned • Tree falls • Injury from habitat destruction/loss • Injury from misadventures • …. All require rescue and immediate veterinary assessment and treatment.
Does it need to be rescued? We need to be able to: • understand koala ‘normal behaviour ’ and body language; • identify koala habitat and know where koalas live; • identify a male from a female; • identify independent young from dependent; • identify common diseases; • identify injured koalas; • recognise pain in koalas; • assess scats; and • be able to ask for help when needed.
Rescue Call …Lots of questions asked Essential that we obtain an accurate history of the animal to determine whether it is sick or injured and whether it needs to come into care. • When was the koala first sighted? • Has it been on the ground for a period of time? For how long? • Does it appear sick? Eyes, bottom etc. • Is it eating? • Is it exhibiting unusual behaviour? • Was any commotion heard from dogs.
Normal Behaviour NORMAL NOT SO NORMAL Sitting in a tree Sitting on the ground Responsive to stimuli (noise, presence of Non-responsive to stimuli rescuer) Moving on the ground for short periods Moving on the ground for extended periods – sitting and staying inactive or bumping into things On the move through the day (particularly in On the move through the day (particularly in breeding season and in cooler weather) very hot weather) Resting in non-food trees Reported in non-food tree for more than 24 hours Attempting to climb security screen doors • Generally koalas are gentle and placid animals UNTIL they feel threatened (i.e. being handled). • Become disorientated easily – particularly when people are standing around the animal and trying to coax it in a particular direction
Assessment Demeanour – Healthy • Bright, alert and responsive to disturbance • Ears should become erect when disturbed
Assessment Demeanour – Unhealthy • Unresponsive • Able to approach closely
Assessment Position – Healthy • Healthy koalas should be up a tree during the day. • If on the ground, they should move away when approached.
Assessment Position – Unhealthy Photo: camertim.com • Sleeping on the ground • Sitting at the base of a tree for a period of time • Does not move away when approached Photo: www.abc.net.au
Assessment Gait/Mobility – Healthy • Have a slight ‘rolling’ gait • Look a little weird walking! Gait/Mobility – Unhealthy • Limping • Falling to one side • Circling
Assessment Body Condition - Healthy • should be well nourished and slightly pot-bellied • pelvic bones and spine should not be discernible • body condition can hard to assess distantly
Assessment Body Condition – Unhealthy • hollowness between the ribcage and pelvis • pelvic bones and spine easily discernible
Assessment Body Scoring • Palpate the suprascapularis and infrascapularis muscles at the midpoint of the scapular spine. • 1 or 2 = emaciated • 3 or 4 = poor • 5 or 6 = fair • 7 or 8 = good • 9 or 10 = excellent
Assessment Coat – Healthy • Should be dense, grey and uniform
Assessment Coat – Healthy • Females with large back young may have brown, patchy fur where the joey has been gripping on
Assessment Coat – Unhealthy • Brown, sparse, coarse or tufted in appearance • Hair loss • Scaly, encrusted skin • Any signs of wet fur which might indicate saliva from a dog
Assessment Eyes – Healthy • Should be clear, bright and free of discharge • Should have no fur loss around the eyes
Assessment Eyes – Unhealthy • Crust formed over eyes • Inflammation around the eye • Pus forming in the eye
Assessment Vent and Rump – Healthy • Bottom should be clean, white, dry and free of dirt or dark brown stains
Assessment Vent and Rump – Unhealthy • Wet bottom • Dark stained bottom (brown colour)
Injuries/Conditions Road Trauma Fractures • Head trauma / • neurological damage Internal bleeding • Paralysis • Orphaned young •
Injuries/Conditions Dog Attack Fractures • Lacerations • Bruising • Internal • bleeding Infection •
Any koala with evidence of saliva MUST receive IMMEDIATE VETERINARY ATTENTION!! No exceptions.
Injuries/Conditions Chlamydia Several forms:- Conjunctivitis • Uro-genital • Reproductive •
Chlamydia – Conjunctivitis Form Photo: AZWH
Chlamydia – Cystitis Treated with:- • Chloramphenicol injections for 45 days Diagnosed by:- Note protrusion of • Clearview Test penis in male koala. • Gross observation This is often a sign of trauma to the lower body region (ie pelvic injury)
Chlamydia – Cystitis Gross necropsy of koala with advanced cystitis. Note the thickened bladder wall and haemorraging. Photos: AZWH
Chlamydia - Reproductive Tract Disease Bursal cyst that was obvious on clinical assessment. Purulent discharge from cloaca – infection in lower reproductive tract Photo: AZWH
Chlamydia - Reproductive Tract Disease Bursal Cysts Reproductive cysts and markedly thickened bladder wall Photo: AZWH
Immunosuppression / Koala Retrovirus (KoRV)Aids Poor condition • Lethargic • Ulcers in and around • mouth Dermatitis • Pot belly •
Cancers/Retrovirus • Osteochondrona (Slow growing cancer of mixed cartilage and bone) Leukaemia • Lymphoma •
Orphan Care • Raising orphaned koala joeys is an intensive job • Lots of veterinary intervention required • Lots of leaf cutting, washing, cleaning ….
Common Concerns Koala crossing road • Human safety above all – ensure people stay off the road • If safe , slow traffic and allow Photo: www.simoneverisphotography.com koala to move in the direction that it wants to • Stay well clear of the koala – they become disorientated easily
Mother trying to save baby • Reported as ‘baby’ on outer limb hanging for dear life and larger koala trying to ‘save it’ • 99% - male trying to ‘court’ a female! • Generally unable to rescue female as risk of her falling is great • If one falls, cover with a blanket or laundry basket and call for help
Koala knocking on door • Ensure all dogs secured and out of sight • Turn all lights off • Leave the koala to move on of its own accord • Should have moved on within an hour – if not, should be assessed by experienced koala rescuer to ensure okay.
Lost koala • Reported in area ‘where koalas shouldn’t live’ • If appears healthy, leave to move on of its own accord • Contact experienced koala rescuer who knows the local area for advice
Problems with Translocating Source: Koala Rehabilitation Manual Koala Hospital Port Macquarie
Misadventure • Entanglement • Entrapment • Swimming Pools
Dispersing Young • Koalas become independent at 12-18 months • Juveniles will then disperse from mother’s home range • Sexually mature at around 2 years of age • Will often still be close to mum so important that they are not ‘kidnapped’ from their mother • Many reports of ‘orphaned’ koalas are actually dispersing young • As a rule – smaller than a football should be considered too young to be away from mum
Back Young 11-12 inches in height (sitting)
Sub Adult
Adult / Mature
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