In the Media 2004

Bionic Koala a hospital success
13 August 2004
Sunshine Coast Daily, page 9
By: Belinda Warren

Wildlife hospital treats 41 injured and mauled koalas in a month. When Steve the koala arrived at Australia Zoo’s Koala and Wildlife Hospital in April with multiple breaks to his pelvis, jaw and arm, staff didn’t expect him to last the night.

But yesterday this bionic baby with a two-year-old’s attitude showed he was a hospital success story – and on cue, the star of the day decided he had pandered to the media quite enough and exited the ‘stage’. It is this return to his normal self that has pleased the Zoo staff and volunteers who all had a hand in his medical recovery which included a two-month stint in intensive care. Steve is one of 41 koalas and more than 260 other native species treated at the not-for-profit Steve Irwin Conservation Foundation’s hospital last month.

Most are victims of road hits or dog attacks – many domestic dogs left loose at night. Some koalas are diseased. Though not yet officially opened, the hospital has outgrown itself and needs to extend facilities and hire more staff to cope with the 24/7 demand. Yesterday the charity was given a boost when Sci-Fleet Toyota handed over the keys for two Toyota Land Cruiser Troop Carriers for wildlife rescues and a Toyota Corolla to raffle.

Wildlife vet Dr John Hanger said the Toyota sponsorship was critical and would allow staff to continue their work with injured animals. “The koala is listed as vulnerable in this area and… the trend continues as we destroy habitat,” Dr Hanger said. “And while we lose habitat we are pushing the koala to extinction along with other wildlife.” Raffle tickets ($5) for the Corolla for Koalas and $1000 fuel are available at the Zoo or phone 5436 2000. Drawn December 24.