The Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital was saddened to announce the death of Luke, a resilient koala who captured the hearts of many when he was first admitted to the rehabilitation facility four years ago.
Luke’s journey began as a helpless joey, rescued from his mother’s pouch after she was tragically hit by a train. The Wildlife Hospital’s dedicated team worked tirelessly to stabilise him, providing around-the-clock care, warmth, and nourishment.
As he grew, Luke was placed under the care of a specialised wildlife carer, who nurtured him with unwavering devotion, preparing him for a future back in the wild. When he was old enough, Luke was successfully released in his natural habitat.
Recently, Luke returned to the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital, bearing the marks of a severe trauma to his front limb. It is suspected that he was caught in barbed wire fencing. The injury had left his bone exposed, and despite the best efforts of our team, the severity of his injuries proved insurmountable.
Wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin said, “It is extremely heartbreaking to see patients like Luke and his mum at the Wildlife Hospital who suffered such terrible injuries. Sadly, this is not a rare occurence especially during trauma season, and we need everyone’s help now more than ever to continue our lifesaving efforts to help wildlife in need.“
A heartbreaking story, Luke’s journey serves as a poignant reminder of the threats that animals face in the wild. The Wildlife Hospital is open 365 days a year and admits patients at no cost to the public. Besides, patient admissions triple during trauma season, which spans from September to February each year. As temperatures rise, wildlife becomes increasingly active seeking food, water, shelter, and companionship.
“Trauma season arrived two months earlier this year and we’ve been admitting 600 patients a month. Recently, the Wildlife Hospital had 60 koalas in care, which is incredibly high, and this excludes other wildlife such as birds, marine turtles, possums and more. Our veterinary team is going above and beyond to treat every patient with the goal of releasing them back to the wild,“ Robert said.
The Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital is one of the biggest rehabilitation facilities in the world and Australia’s busiest koala hospital, achieving monumental milestones in koala conservation.
The iconic, yet endangered, koala continues to face threats such as collisions with vehicles, domestic pet attacks, disease, and habitat loss. They have treated more than 11,000 koalas since opening doors and are working with researchers to find a cure for deadly diseases such as chlamydia, an illness rapidly wiping out the population.
This trauma season, the Wildlife Hospital urges the public to remain vigilant on the roads, keep an eye out for injured wildlife, and contact your nearest rescue group to help an animal in need.
To donate and help them help wildlife, visit wildlifewarriors.org.au
