Orphaned koala saved from Vic bushfires released back to the wild

A spark of hope has emerged from the aftermath* of Victoria’s January bushfires. A young, orphaned* koala called Robyn has been returned to the wild, after a long recovery at Healesville Sanctuary’s wildlife hospital.

Robyn tragically lost both parents in the fires. She was found seeking refuge* in a water trough at a farm near Yarck, as blazes swept through the region and she was taken to a pop-up triage* centre established by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action.

Healesville Sanctuary veterinary* nurse Hayley Bradshaw said that when they first saw Robyn for treatment, the koala was clearly traumatised* and dehydrated*.

“She had burns to her four feet, nose and singed fur down her back,” Ms Bradshaw said. “Her wounds were not very comfortable, and she was underweight.”

Robyn’s care was very intensive in the beginning, when her condition was touch and go. The six-month-old needed daily monitoring for her bandages and pain relief.

“It’s a real team effort to be able to get these guys through,” Ms Bradshaw said. “Even if Robyn wasn’t a baby, it is very intensive.

“They require fresh food every single day. They require specific hospital housing, because they do become stressed if they can’t sit up in a little tree. We had to arrange a small mini fork for her where she could sit in our new intensive care unit and we provided ongoing care.”

Luckily, Robyn was at the age when she would have started learning skills from her mother in the wild. Being on the cusp of weaning* also meant the hospital team could provide both milk and leaves for her to gain weight.

After four months of care, the day finally arrived for Robyn to return home. It was a crisp, sunny morning when two vet nurses drove to a release site near where she was originally found. Wildlife is always returned close to the rescue location to increase the chance of survival.

The team selected a corridor of trees, with fresh growth providing food and shelter and a nearby creek providing a freshwater source. For the team who cared for her, Robyn’s release was a reminder of why their work mattered. They said the feeling was incredibly rewarding.

“Robyn seemed very excited as she came out of the transport crate,” Ms Bradshaw said.

“There was a little breeze and you could see her smelling the fresh air. She was ready to go as soon as we got her to the base of the tree. We watched her to make sure she settled in.

“She had a wonderful time checking out the different branches. She was looking out on the horizon watching the birds. It’s so nice to see her not in a hospital situation after she’s been through so much and finally be free to enjoy the wild.”

The team was very hopeful the juvenile* koala would now thrive in the wild and one day have joeys of her own.

Healesville Sanctuary’s Australian Wildlife Health Centre treats approximately 2000 patients annually. Visitors can see the incredible vets and nurses at work, thanks to the glass internal walls of the hospital.

If you’ve found a sick, injured or orphaned animal, you can find a full list of who can help, by visiting zoo.org.au/emergency-wildlife-help/

POLL

GLOSSARY

• aftermath: the period following an unpleasant event or accident, and the effects that it causes
• orphaned: left without parents
• refuge: a place that gives protection or shelter from danger and trouble
• triage: process of and place inside a hospital where it’s decided which patients are the most seriously ill and must be treated first
• weaning: process of replacing the mother’s milk with other foods and sources of nourishment
• veterinary: related to taking care of the health of animals
• traumatised: severely shocked, upset and/or injured in a way that causes lasting pain
• dehydrated: deprived of sufficient water and moisture
• juvenile: young person or animal, not yet fully grown

EXTRA READING

Koala-saving hero hound retires

New program matchmaking koalas

Koala’s healing hug from its mum

QUICK QUIZ

1. What injuries had Robyn sustained in the fires?
2. The joey was at an age on the cusp of weaning – why was this detail important?
3. Why do carers return recovered animals back to where they were found?
4. How many months did Robyn spend in recovery?
5. Healesville Sanctuary’s Australian Wildlife Health Centre treats approximately how many patients annually?

LISTEN TO THIS STORY

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Visual description of Robyn
Draw and describe two versions of Robyn the koala.

In the first version, draw how she looked as she was rescued after the fires, and the second version what she looked like as she was released back into her natural habitat.

Write some dot points under each picture explaining her state of health and how it improved over time and with care and treatment.

Time: allow 20 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Visual Arts, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking

2. Extension
What responsibilities do communities have to protect native wildlife?

What are some services in your area that do this?

Time: allow 10 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Civics and Citizenship, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking

VCOP ACTIVITY
Animal alliterations
With a partner, choose one of the pictures from the article.

Make a list of nouns you could use to name the animal in the picture. For example, instead of a tiger, you could also say cat, or feline.

Pick your favourite noun and identify its initial sound — what sound it starts with, not necessarily what letter.

Now, using the initial sound, make a list of adjectives to describe the animal. Try to be specific. Don’t just look at the animal as a whole, look at their different features as well.

Build on these same sound words, and add any verbs and adverbs you could use to describe the animal and their movements.

Try to put it all together and use as many same sound words in a sentence, to create an alliteration about the animal in the picture. For example: the terrifying tiger, tiptoed through tangled trees chasing his prey.