A wild koala found debilitated and isolated in a cave following significant rainfall, has recevied koali-ty care by wildlife carers and veterinarians at Werribee Open Range Zoo.
The adult male koala was first seen early last week by a member of the public who was kayaking alongside a large cliff face on the Glenelg River, on the border of Victoria and South Australia.
The koala was rescued and bear-y quickly transported to Werribee Open Range Zoo for urgent medical treatment.
Werribee Open Range Zoo Senior Veterinarian Dr Natalie Rourke said it was possible the koala had slipped from a tree and fallen into the river during the storms, before being washed up into the cave with no accessible pathway out.
“The koala was quickly becoming weak from starvation because he had no access to his daily eucalyptus diet while trapped in the cave,” Dr Rourke said.
“Koalas are not natural swimmers, so without intervention, it could have drowned attempting to exit the cave to find food.”
When the koala arrived at Werribee Open Range Zoo, the vet team conducted an examination under anaesthetic which included X-rays, ultrasounds, and blood tests. Dr Rourke said the tests and scans indicated no broken bones or underlying injuries, but revealed a moderately malnourished, hungry koala with an empty stomach.
“It was evident from the ultrasound that he had not recently consumed any food,” Dr Rourke said.
“So, we provided treatment in the form of oral rehydration therapy, pain-relief medication, and bountiful, fresh eucalyptus browse.”
The koala spent five days rehabilitating in Werribee Open Range Zoo’s RSPCA Koala Ward rehabilitation pens, where it was monitored by vets and provided with browse twice a day.
The koala has since been released by wildlife carers into a safe and dry habitat, near where it was found.
