For almost 40 years, the Koala Hospital in Port Macquarie and its team of volunteers have been caring for sick and injured koalas, giving them a second chance at life.
Premiering on Nat Geo Wild on Sunday, December 18 at 7.30pm, Koala Hospital takes you inside the world’s cutest hospital for an exclusive look at the challenges the staff face in rescuing these iconic Australians from dangerous situations.
Confronted by a maze of roads and human mayhem, and with fewer places to live, Koalas are now becoming urban refugees. In one instance, the adorable Jimmy is taken to the hospital’s emergency room, after he’s knocked unconscious by a car. His mother is killed in the accident and Jimmy becomes an orphan.
Jimmy’s story is typical for koalas trying to survive in the modern world. The species faces an amazing number of obstacles, from car accidents and pet dog attacks to disease, bushfires and the growing threat of climate change.
The hospital’s staff, led by wildlife biologist Cheyne Flanagan, is on 24-hour call to rescue and care for one of Australia’s most beloved animals.
“With an amazing team of volunteers and scientists, the Koala Hospital uses ground-breaking science – and a little love – to look after these extraordinary animals.”
“The work of the hospital becomes ever more critical as human encroachment, habitat loss and fires radically alter their habitat,” she said.
The Koala Hospital’s goal is to return its patients to a safe life in the bush and increase Australians’ understanding of their little known yet fascinating world.
In an emotional final scene, after a long and uncertain road to recovery, Jimmy passes all the tests and is set free in his wild and natural home in the gum trees.
He’s just one small koala in a very big world, with many challenges ahead of him, but his success story is a victory for a little hospital making a difference – one koala at a time.
Koala Hospital is produced for National Geographic Channels International by Global Briefing.
