Story: Darrell Nash
You don’t get much more Aussie than a koala and, with Australia Day fast approaching, these little critters need our help.
Port Macquarie is the home of the oldest Koala Hospital in the world. However, expanding property development and the associated decrease in access to food is placing these ‘already sick’ animals at risk of starvation.
The hospital, which was established in 1973 and will celebrate its 40th anniversary this year, caters for 40-50 injured and sick koalas at any one time.
With each koala, ranging from new babies to fully grown adults, needing to eat an average of approximately half a kg of leaf material each day, the shortage of available material is becoming a real concern for hospital staff.
Two full-time hospital staff and 170 incredibly generous volunteers currently source leaf material from the North Shore to Lauriton for the injured animals, which come from Newcastle to Coonabarabran to Moree, the QLD border and everywhere in between.
Hospital supervisor, Cheyne Flanagan explained that over the past few years it has become increasingly more difficult to source food.
“Whilst we have brilliant volunteers that willingly cover all their own travel expenses and give their own time in travelling to collect leaf material, the simple fact is that we are running out of food,” said Flanagan.
“We not only have to provide for our sick animals but also ensure we don’t deplete the stocks for those koalas living in the wild.”
Flanagan explained that injuries to koalas often come from traffic accidents, bushfires, dog attacks and natural diseases as well as their loss of habitat.
“We are asking for anybody with trees such as Tallowood, Swamp Mahogany, Grey Gum, Niccohi and /or Ironbark, and is happy for us to source some leaf material from time to time, to please contact us on 6584 1522.
“We can reach branches up to heights of 15m so any help in sourcing food would be greatly appreciated”.
