Koala News

with Libby Dempsey

Star's story of recovery

Looking at Star now, feeding herself the pumpkin and sweetcorn she occasionally still requests, I am still astonished by her remarkable recovery. Star is a young, female koala, who has been in care at the Friends of the Koala's Care Centre since she was brought in early this year, after the bushfire in Broadwater National Park. At the time she was a very sorry sight. Her fur was burnt, pieces of her ears actually fell off, her paws were so sore and raw that she would dip them in bowls of water to soothe them, her burnt mouth made it too painful to eat, and she lost the joey that was in her pouch.

After three months of intensive care, she was well enough to go to the outside enclosure. She has always been a delightful personality and a willing patient, responding to treatments including fluid replacement, homeopathic remedies, walking on branches wrapped in blankets, daily fur brushing to stimulate new fur growth, Aloe Vera on her paws, re-establishment of gut flora, and living on pumpkin and sweet corn baby food, mixed with blended gumleaf, until she was able to eat again.

It has been quite a learning process for all involved and a true team effort. We have had assistance and advice from many people including Cheyne Flanagan of the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital; local vet Geoff Tomkins; homeopathic practitioner Phil Robbins; the people associated with her initial rescue high up and starving in her burnt tree; the leaf collectors who travelled far and wide to collect her favourite leaf, and the many carers at the Care Centre who are devoted to her care. We are very grateful for everybody's efforts.

Star is now looking very healthy and is almost fully fit. She will remain in care until all her claws have regrown. Most of her claws fell out after being burnt. At this stage, she does have surprising agility when moving about on soft-barked trees but is unable to negotiate smooth-barked trees, so extra leaf needs to be provided daily. Star's claws are improving, and we hope they will soon be strong enough to enable her to climb the variety of gum trees she needs to as a wild koala.

There is also a rumour that Star may have been visited by one of the males who occasionally pop over the fence, and a young 'Twinkle' may be on the way.

Please call Friends of the Koala's Rescue and Information line on 6622 1233 if you see a koala at risk. For other wildlife call Northern Rivers Wildlife Carers on 6628 1866.