Friends of the Koala

MEDIA RELEASE

24 January 2008

Not ours to keep

The care of injured wildlife needs to be undertaken by licensed wildlife carers who are specifically trained to undertake this role.

It is always distressing to see a native animal in need of care. There are a number of groups on the Northern Rivers whose members are very knowledgeable about various species, their dietary requirements, proven treatment and rehabilitation regimes and release protocols.

Friends of the Koala (FOK) is such a group which has been working to conserve local koalas for over 20 years. Its activities are associated with habitat restoration, animal health and welfare, research into healthy and diseased koala populations, education and advocacy.

Over recent weeks FOK has received three koalas into care in circumstances where members of the public have been reluctant to hand over the animals. President, Lorraine Vass said, “The delay in contact often leads to an animal suffering pain unnecessarily and invariably has a detrimental impact on its recovery. Also, there can be issues of hygiene and potential disease transference.”

”Perhaps the most disturbing of the recent incidents has been a joey separated from its mother. At its age joeys are still feeding from their mothers as well as eating leaf. This little fellow missed out on a mother’s milk substitute for three days”, explained Care Co-ordinator, Barb Dobner. “Koala joeys require specialised formulas and are very tricky to feed. For these reasons it is better to hand on the animal as soon as possible to a trained koala wildlife rehabilitator”, Barbara said.

FOK, like other licensed wildlife rehabilitation groups, relies on members of the public to report animals in distress and does its best to provide feedback on a koala’s progress.

Whilst it may be very tempting to pick up and keep an iconic animal such as a koala at home, members of the public should think very seriously about the animal’s welfare and also the legal sanctions for not handing over a distressed native animal or keeping one as a pet.

People keen to help rehabilitate koalas and give them the best chance of survival, should consider joining Friends of the Koala. For enquiries about FOK’s training courses or reporting a koala in need, ring the Koala Rescue Hotline on 66221233.

For more information visit www.friendsofthekoala.org

Media contacts:

Care Co-ordinator: Barbara Dobner – 6688 8165
President: Lorraine Vass – 6629 8388

Friends of the Koala, PO Box 5034, East Lismore NSW 2480.

Koala Care Centre, Rifle Range Road, Lismore NSW 2480.

Volunteers working for koala rescue • advocacy • education • environmental repair

DECC licence: 10066