KOALAS IN THE WIDE BAY BURNETT

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1 KOALAS IN THE WIDE BAY BURNETT Wildcare Australia & Wildlife Rescue Fraser Coast Joint Presentation

2 Our organisations Overview of Rehabilitation Causes and Issues Statistics on Koala Rescues in Wide Bay Burnett / BMRG Region Locality case study.

3 What is Wildcare? A group of people who care Established in 1992 Operate a 24 hour/7 day emergency telephone service to facilitate the prompt rescue of wildlife Train volunteers in all aspects of the rescue and rehabilitation of wildlife Promote the protection of natural habitat Educate the general community in all aspects of wildlife and their needs Operates predominantly Gympie south to Border & out to Toowoomba.

4 Wildlife Rescue Fraser Coast Alliance of privately permitted rehabilitators and those permitted under ANARRA. Operate a 24 hour/7 day emergency telephone service to facilitate the prompt rescue of wildlife Promote the protection of natural habitat Educate the general community in all aspects of wildlife and their needs Operates predominantly in Fraser Coast region.

Rehabilitation Volunteers Must hold a Specialise Koala Rehabilitation Permit Must complete regular training Generally care for wildlife in home-based facilities Work

5 Rehabilitation Volunteers Must hold a Specialise Koala Rehabilitation Permit Must complete regular training Generally care for wildlife in home-based facilities Work closely with our partners: Queensland Environment & Heritage Protection Currumbin Wildlife Hospital Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital RSPCA Queensland Local veterinary surgeries

6 Aim - To rescue, rehabilitate and release back to the wild

7 Koala Rehabilitation Causes and Issues

8 Why do our koalas need us? Road trauma Domestic animal attacks Disease Entanglement Orphaned Tree falls Injury from habitat destruction/loss Injury from misadventures. All require rescue and immediate veterinary assessment and treatment.

9 Does it need to be rescued? We need to be able to: understand koala normal behaviour and body language; identify koala habitat and know where koalas live; identify a male from a female; identify independent young from dependent; identify common diseases; identify injured koalas; recognise pain in koalas; assess scats; and be able to ask for help when needed.

Rescue Call Lots of questions asked Essential that we obtain an accurate history of the animal to determine whether it is sick or injured and whether it needs to come into care.

10 Rescue Call Lots of questions asked Essential that we obtain an accurate history of the animal to determine whether it is sick or injured and whether it needs to come into care. When was the koala first sighted? Has it been on the ground for a period of time? For how long? Does it appear sick? Eyes, bottom etc. Is it eating? Is it exhibiting unusual behaviour? Was any commotion heard from dogs.

11 NORMAL Sitting in a tree Responsive to stimuli (noise, presence of rescuer) Normal Behaviour NOT SO NORMAL Sitting on the ground Non-responsive to stimuli Moving on the ground for short periods Moving on the ground for extended periods sitting and staying inactive or bumping into things On the move through the day (particularly in breeding season and in cooler weather) On the move through the day (particularly in very hot weather) Resting in non-food trees Reported in non-food tree for more than 24 hours Attempting to climb security screen doors Generally koalas are gentle and placid animals UNTIL they feel threatened (i.e. being handled). Become disorientated easily particularly when people are standing around the animal and trying to coax it in a particular direction

12 Assessment Demeanour Healthy Bright, alert and responsive to disturbance Ears should become erect when disturbed

13 Assessment Demeanour Unhealthy Unresponsive Able to approach closely

14 Assessment Position Healthy Healthy koalas should be up a tree during the day. If on the ground, they should move away when approached.

15 Assessment Position Unhealthy Photo: camertim.com Sleeping on the ground Sitting at the base of a tree for a period of time Does not move away when approached Photo:

16 Assessment Gait/Mobility Healthy Have a slight rolling gait Look a little weird walking! Gait/Mobility Unhealthy Limping Falling to one side Circling

17 Assessment Body Condition - Healthy should be well nourished and slightly pot-bellied pelvic bones and spine should not be discernible body condition can hard to assess distantly

18 Assessment Body Condition Unhealthy hollowness between the ribcage and pelvis pelvic bones and spine easily discernible

19 Assessment Body Scoring Palpate the suprascapularis and infrascapularis muscles at the midpoint of the scapular spine. 1 or 2 = emaciated 3 or 4 = poor 5 or 6 = fair 7 or 8 = good 9 or 10 = excellent

20 Assessment Coat Healthy Should be dense, grey and uniform

21 Assessment Coat Healthy Females with large back young may have brown, patchy fur where the joey has been gripping on

22 Assessment Coat Unhealthy Brown, sparse, coarse or tufted in appearance Hair loss Scaly, encrusted skin Any signs of wet fur which might indicate saliva from a dog

23 Assessment Eyes Healthy Should be clear, bright and free of discharge Should have no fur loss around the eyes

24 Assessment Eyes Unhealthy Crust formed over eyes Inflammation around the eye Pus forming in the eye

25 Assessment Vent and Rump Healthy Bottom should be clean, white, dry and free of dirt or dark brown stains

26 Assessment Vent and Rump Unhealthy Wet bottom Dark stained bottom (brown colour)

27 Injuries/Conditions Road Trauma Fractures Head trauma / neurological damage Internal bleeding Paralysis Orphaned young

28 Dog Attack Injuries/Conditions Fractures Lacerations Bruising Internal bleeding Infection

29 Any koala with evidence of saliva MUST receive IMMEDIATE VETERINARY ATTENTION!! No exceptions.

31 Injuries/Conditions Chlamydia Several forms:- Conjunctivitis Uro-genital Reproductive

32 Chlamydia Conjunctivitis Form Photo: AZWH

observation Note protrusion of penis in male koala.

33 Chlamydia Cystitis Treated with:- Chloramphenicol injections for 45 days Diagnosed by:- Clearview Test Gross observation Note protrusion of penis in male koala. This is often a sign of trauma to the lower body region (ie pelvic injury)

34 Chlamydia Cystitis Gross necropsy of koala with advanced cystitis. Note the thickened bladder wall and haemorraging. Photos: AZWH

35 Chlamydia - Reproductive Tract Disease Bursal cyst that was obvious on clinical assessment. Purulent discharge from cloaca infection in lower reproductive tract Photo: AZWH

36 Chlamydia - Reproductive Tract Disease Bursal Cysts Photo: AZWH Reproductive cysts and markedly thickened bladder wall

37 Immunosuppression / Koala Retrovirus (KoRV)Aids Poor condition Lethargic Ulcers in and around mouth Dermatitis Pot belly

38 Cancers/Retrovirus Osteochondrona (Slow growing cancer of mixed cartilage and bone) Leukaemia Lymphoma

39 Raising orphaned koala joeys is an intensive job Lots of veterinary intervention required Lots of leaf cutting, washing, cleaning. Orphan Care

move in the direction that it wants to Stay well clear of the koala

40 Common Concerns Koala crossing road Human safety above all ensure people stay off the road If safe, slow traffic and allow koala to move in the direction that it wants to Stay well clear of the koala they become disorientated easily Photo:

41 Mother trying to save baby Reported as baby on outer limb hanging for dear life and larger koala trying to save it 99% - male trying to court a female! Generally unable to rescue female as risk of her falling is great If one falls, cover with a blanket or laundry basket and call for help

42 Koala knocking on door Ensure all dogs secured and out of sight Turn all lights off Leave the koala to move on of its own accord Should have moved on within an hour if not, should be assessed by experienced koala rescuer to ensure okay.

43 Lost koala Reported in area where koalas shouldn t live If appears healthy, leave to move on of its own accord Contact experienced koala rescuer who knows the local area for advice

44 Problems with Translocating Source: Koala Rehabilitation Manual Koala Hospital Port Macquarie

45 Misadventure Entanglement Entrapment Swimming Pools

46 Dispersing Young Koalas become independent at months Juveniles will then disperse from mother s home range Sexually mature at around 2 years of age Will often still be close to mum so important that they are not kidnapped from their mother Many reports of orphaned koalas are actually dispersing young As a rule smaller than a football should be considered too young to be away from mum

47 Back Young inches in height (sitting)

48 Sub Adult

49 Adult / Mature

Basic Koala Rescue Techniques Koalas must be handled gently and confidently They are extremely strong and have the ability to inflict serious injury The flagging technique

50 Basic Koala Rescue Techniques Koalas must be handled gently and confidently They are extremely strong and have the ability to inflict serious injury The flagging technique carries a degree of risk to the koala Much easier to rescue if on the ground do not encourage to go up a tree Do not rescue if not necessary as koalas suffer from stress easily

51 Large top opening wire cage Blankets and towels Cage cover Heat source (hot water bottle, instant heat packs) Flagging poles Plastic bags and brightcoloured cloths for end of flagging poles Koala trap Binoculars Basic Koala Equipment

Flagging Concept is based on the pretense that if a koala perceives that the threat above it is greater than the one below it, then it will retreat down the tree.

52 Flagging Concept is based on the pretense that if a koala perceives that the threat above it is greater than the one below it, then it will retreat down the tree. Aim - To get them down within reach quickly so that they don t have time to think about what is happening! If risk of fall to koala is high, we use alternative methods

53 Trapping Use of a humane trap made from aluminum and Perspex with a corflute fence constructed around tree.

54 Trapping

55 Koalas in the Wide Bay Burnett

56 Koala Admission Records Sourced all admissions through Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital from (Full EHP records not forthcoming). Closest official Koala Treatment Facility to BMRG area Biased By virtue of wildlife hospital - only include Koalas where humans have intervened or acted Full longitudinal tracking needed for the full story in the wild Data issues change in database during timeframe and not 100% accurate suburb name entries

57 662 Koala s admitted to AZWH (some multiple visits) between from BMRG region. Number extremely conservative of BMRG Region rescues: Likely many more admitted elsewhere for more urgent care eg obvious euthanasia s or more local care. Many DOA cases would be unreported. Issue with Chloraphenicol access in 2014 for 9 months many Koalas never caught or sent.

58 Admissions by Council Area (within BMRG Catchments)

59 Primary Admission Cause mostly consistent % s with SEQ Region

60 Initial Outcome (Longer term outcome info unavailable)

61 Hot Spot Localities.top 14 Note some issues with suburb descriptions in databases

62 Tinana locality..spike and Crash

63 Tinana Locality Admission Causes

64 Primary Admission Cause BMRG area mostly consistent % s with SEQ Region

65 Tinana Locality Admission Causes

66 Threshold habitat stress?? Coloured Parcels SLATS clearing Bounded Population with ongoing incremental clearing Tinana

67 How to Help Koalas Protect and retain existing koala habitat Plant koala food trees helps all wildlife Restrain dogs particularly at night Always report dog attacks Provide exit routes from pools Report diseased koalas early

68 Until help arrives Sick and injured koalas:- Human safety above all else Keep the koala on the ground with a laundry basket or by placing hand on top of head from behind do not encourage up a tree! Keep dogs away out of sight Do not pick up wait for an experienced koala rescuer to arrive

69 Who to call.. Bundaberg & North Burnett Bundaberg Wildlife Rescue Ph Fraser Coast Wildlife Rescue Fraser Coast Ph /7 Gympie & South Burnett ANNARA Ph or Noosa / Upper Mary AZWH Ph & Wildcare Australia Ph

70 Main Photo Credits: Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital Currumbin Wildlife Hospital. Dr Jon Hanger Karen Scott

Specialised Permits Policy

Specialised Permits Policy Wildcare Australia Inc Policy and Procedure Version 2 (March 2016) BACKGROUND Wildcare Australia Inc. has been issued with a Group Rehabilitation Permit for koalas, echidnas and venomous snakes. Koalas,