If you see a koala on the ground and not moving it is not normal, but if reported quickly may mean the difference between life and death, is the message from koala conservationists who last week were alerted to a koala on the ground in an urban park on The Avenue, Peregian Springs only to find their rescue efforts came too late to assist the deceased marsupial.
Queensland Koala Crusader Bernard Jean said the koala had been sighted in the park on Tuesday but wasn’t reported to Wildlife Rescue Sunshine Coast until the next day.
“As our rescue group works in close collaboration with other rescue groups two of our members took the call straight away and went on site to the park where they found the poor koala dead with wounds around the head,” he said.
“If he was concussed/shocked by being hit by a car he wouldn’t have survived the cold night despite being otherwise a young and healthy looking male.
“If it had been reported to a rescue group the day the member of public saw him sitting on the ground he might have been saved by being rushed to the closest wildlife hospital.”For wildlife help phone RSPCA 1300ANIMAL (1300 264625), WILVOS 5441 6200, Wildcare 5527 2444, WRSC 0458 682 152 or AZWH 1300 369 652.
