An orphaned koala joey who was rescued from the catastrophic floods in New South Wales has been released back into the wild after months of rehabilitation.
The adorable koala named Gulliver was rescued amid the torrential downpours in Tregeagle in the NSW Northern Rivers region on February 28th. He was 14-months-old at the time and was found walking alone on the ground, calling for his mum, who sadly couldn’t be found.
Once rescued, he was taken to Friends of the Koala which works closely with IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) to rescue, rehabilitate, and release koalas in the region.
Because of his young age, Gulliver was put into home care with an experienced koala rehabilitator and was assessed by IFAW-sponsored vet Dr. Jodie Wakeman. He wasn’t suffering from any underlying health issues, but because of his young age, he had to be monitored until he was old enough to be released back into the wild.
He was thriving in home care and was described by volunteers as “alert, inquisitive, and gentle-natured.”“During the catastrophic floods in our region, we were surrounded by loss. People lost their homes and possessions; animals lost their habitat and sometimes their lives,” Dr. Wakeman said.
“Being directly involved in the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of Gulliver, who was lucky to survive and has thrived in care, has given everyone at Friends of the Koala a positive focus during a difficult time and gives us hope for the future of our endangered species,” continued Dr. Wakeman.
IFAW’s Animal Rescue Program Officer Nicole Rojas-Marin said one survivor from such a catastrophic disaster is vital for the conservation of the species.
“Floods have an immense impact on our wildlife, including koalas. While people may think koalas are safe at the top of trees, the reality is that they’re at real risk of being separated from their mothers or becoming injured and unwell. For such an iconic species like the koala — which is already endangered in three states, it’s another threat to their survival,” said Ms. Rojas-Marin. “Gulliver is very lucky that he was rescued when he was — he could have ended up in a far worse situation, but instead, after months of expert care has now been released back into the wild where he’ll hopefully thrive.”
The catastrophic floods that hit New South Wales and Queensland had devastating impacts on people, communities, and wildlife — many of which were impacted by the Black Summer bushfires two years earlier. Animals and ecosystems which may have only just begun to bounce back, have been pushed further to the edge of extinction.
