The koala, nicknamed Ernie, was hit by a car near Hamilton in November last year.
Ernie sustained a deep cut on his back and fractured a piece of bone off his femur. He underwent surgery at the Koala Ernie returns to the wild, where two metal screws were placed in his bone to repair the fracture.
Following the operation, Ernie spent almost seven months being rehabilitated by wildlife shelter operator Marilyn Blankley and Werribee Zoo veterinary experts.
Recently he was released onto a private property bordering the Brisbane Ranges National Park in southwest Victoria – just in time for breeding season.
Mrs Blankley, who filmed Ernie’s release in order to make sure he was using both hind legs equally, said the moment he jumped onto tree was “poetry in motion”.
“It was a wonderful sight,” she said.“He’s got a long life ahead of him and it’s the vets at Werribee Zoo who have given him that,” she said.
Werribee Open Range Zoo veterinarian, Dr Paul Eden, said it was “very rewarding” to see Ernie released back into the wild.
