12 October 2011
What a week it has been for the Australia Zoo Rescue Unit and the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital!
Meet Rian, the female koala who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Rian is a seven-year-old healthy female koala who was caught in a bushfire on North Stradbroke Island at the start of September.
The Australia Zoo Rescue Unit received a call for help from local wildlife rescuers on the island after Rian was spotted high in a burnt-out tree, roughly three to four weeks after the fire.
Cory and James from the Australia Zoo Rescue Unit geared up for the journey to North Stradbroke which requires a one-hour boat trip to get to the island. Upon arrival at Rian's location, both rescuers could clearly see the desperate situation Rian was in and knew the urgency of getting Rian safely down the tree so she could be rushed to the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital for emergency treatment.
After an hour-long rescue, Cory and James were able to catch Rian and safely transport her back to the hospital.
Upon arrival at the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital, Wildlife Veterinarian Dr Amber Gillett was waiting to assess the female koala.
Dr Amber immediately anaesthetized Rian so she could thoroughly assess the badly burnt koala. Dr Amber's assessment revealed red and bleeding tissue around both of Rian's eyes and the entire surface of her nose. Rian's fur was singed and the hairs appeared to have melted on the ends in most areas.
It is still early days for Rian but Dr Amber is happy with her progress. Rian has left the Intensive Care Unit and moved in to an outdoor enclosure to continue her recovery. Rian's appetite is very impressive which is a great sign for a healthy recovery.
You can donate towards Rian and other koalas like her in our care by visiting www.everydayhero.com.au/event/koala
4 Comments
Show comments | Comment on this news item
callum 29th February 2012 09:35:52 AEST
i file sory for you
laine 29th February 2012 09:30:44 AEST
if you kod not get to him by grand wod you leve him ther or wod you try something alss
naomi 30th October 2011 13:17:42 AEST
get better rian
Gillian From Canada 19th October 2011 06:41:56 AEST
Poor Rian, thank goodness you are now in the very best of hands with the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital, that's for sure. Beautiful Rian, you will be in my thoughts! Thank you to those who found her, you were rescued by the very best - The Australia Zoo Rescue Unit!