In a heartbreaking accident, a koala mother was struck by a car and sadly did not make it, leaving behind her young joey.
As the car drove 30 kilometres further, Eamon, the koala joey less than 12 months old, was miraculously discovered stuck in the grill of the car.
Upon being transported to the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital, little Eamon received a complete health assessment from our round-the-clock veterinary team, before admitting him to the Perry MacFarlane Koala Intensive Care Unit.
Luke Reavley, general manager at Wildlife Warriors said, “Our team at the Wildlife Hospital was shocked when we realised the circumstances Eamon was brought to us under. He is a strong little koala who will be with us while undergoing treatment and specialty milk feeds every four hours.”
Eamon suffered from abdominal bleeding and severe dehydration when he first arrived. The Wildlife Hospital is monitoring Eamon around the clock and treating him with specialised medication to help stop the bleeding and regain his strength.
“Eamon’s story is a tragic reminder of the devastating impact of car accidents on native wildlife. But we are thrilled that we can help, and are able to give him the care he needs to get back to full health. Koalas are now listed as an endangered species, and every life saved at the Wildlife Hospital makes a critical difference to the population of these iconic animals in the wild,” Luke said.
As Eamon’s health continues to improve, he will soon be transferred to a registered wildlife carer where he will carry on with his recovery before returning to the Wildlife Hospital for Koala Kindy. Here, he will learn to coexist with other orphaned koalas while climbing tall trees and eating delicious eucalyptus leaves, preparing him for a life in the wild when he is old enough.
Terri Irwin, founder of Wildlife Warriors said, “Eamon’s journey has touched our hearts. It is incredibly saddening that this poor joey lost his mum in a traumatic car accident, and got lodged in the grill of the car. Thanks to the extraordinary efforts of everyone involved in rescuing this joey and bringing him to the Wildlife Hospital, there is hope that he will be able to return to the wild and live a healthy life.”
The Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with every patient treated at no cost to the public. To find out about their lifesaving efforts or to donate, visit wildlifewarriors.org.au.
