NOOSA’S much-loved and often-photographed Mr Cuddles the koala has died after suffering an agonising infection.
Queensland Koala Crusaders’ Carolyn Beaton made the announcement over the weekend and said Mr Cuddles’ hand, nose and mouth had become ulcerated and his demeanour had deteriorated before the decision was made to euthanase the iconic koala.
In a statement to the media, Australia Zoo Wildlife vet Dr Rosie Booth said a postmortem showed changes to Mr Cuddles’ spleen and bone marrow, which is consistent with active retrovirus infection.
Ms Beaton said Mr Cuddles was one of seven local koalas to be put down over the past few months after they were unable to be returned to their natural habitat due to disease.
Another local koala, Lesley, was rescued but then deemed “no longer viable” due to complications of chlamydia and a thickened bladder and uterine walls.
Lesley was also euthanased along with five other koalas from Noosa National Park.
Queensland Koala Crusaders president Meghan Halverson said the future wasn’t looking bright for the Noosa koala population unless urgent action was taken.
“If you look at the long-term evidence of koala disease prevalence in Noosa National park and the fact that we have lost seven koalas in the past few months, we are truly in crisis,” she said.
Ms Halverson said there were still two koalas in the Park with disease symptoms that had eluded rescuers.
“While they need care, I fear that if they go this might be it, the end for those koalas that everyone comes from far and wide to see in Noosa National Park,” she said.
“Hopefully it’s not too late. If government, community and the wider world can work together we just may be able to meaningfully help those koalas we hold so dear to our hearts.”
The Queensland Koala Crusaders has thrown its support behind the coming fund-raising luncheon at Makepeace Island on Friday 30 September where funds will be raised for a koala conservatory. The Crusaders said such causes are worthy of broad support.
