By Abbey Cannan
A koala named ‘Trampy’ has died after being bitten by a dog on Friday 15 February at Sir Thomas Riley Park off Butler Street in Tewantin.
Trampy was rescued by the newly created Noosa Region Koala Rescue Team and after being assessed by specialist wildlife veterinarians at the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital, the koala was found to have suffered multiple puncture wounds to the abdomen consistent with a dog mauling.
This caused untreatable damage and as a result the koala had to be euthanised.
The Noosa Region Koala Rescue Team said that dogs are acting from instinct but people can do better.
“We would like the community to be aware that if you live with dogs in a koala habitat, the dog should be on a lead when out walking,” they said.
The Noosa Region Koala Rescue Team is sponsored by Queensland Koala Crusaders, facilitated by a grant from Noosa Council in 2018.
The group is overseen and trained by Wildcare Australia and works collaboratively with various groups and facilities on the Sunshine Coast to do what’s best for koalas.
All sick or injured koalas rescued and successfully treated, are returned to their home range.
Trampy the koala was already known to the Koala Care and Rescue Community after recently being treated for three months due to chlamydia. He was treated through RSPCA and cared for by Koala Rescue Queensland who released him in his home range last December.
