A late-night drive towards Inverell has turned into a remarkable wildlife rescue, after a quick-thinking motorist spotted an injured koala on the roadside and worked through the night to keep her safe.
Lightning Ridge prospector Bryn Casement was travelling towards Inverell on the way to get some mining parts when he saw the young female koala, later nicknamed April, with blood on her nose.
Using his jumper, Mr Casement managed to wrap up the koala, but when he tried to place her in the covered back of his ute, she had other plans, latching herself firmly to the ute’s headboard.
“I don’t know if you’ve ever tried to grab a koala before but gosh, they’re strong,” said Mr Casement.
With April firmly in place, Mr Casement drove carefully into Inverell’s McDonald’s Drive-Thru hoping staff might know a local wildlife rescuer, but with no luck.
“I wish I could have filmed the looks on the McDonald’s staff faces when I pulled up at the drive-thru window with the koala clinging to the back of my ute,” said Mr Casement.
Not wanting to leave her, he parked in a driveway outside town and camped in his roof top tent overnight awaiting a call from wildlife rescue.
“I figured the best thing I could do was just leave her be overnight,” said Mr Casement.
“When Tanya [Arentz] turned up, I couldn’t see the koala and I was about to apologise for losing her – turned out she’d just moved to the roof.”
WIRES volunteer Tanya Arentz arrived just after 6am.
“When I had all the information, I made sure I got there as quick as I could,” Ms Arentz said. “Not only for the sake of the koala but also because I knew this lovely young man had gone out of his way to save this koala.”
“It was also a really good thing that April had moved because she’d got herself into a spot where it made it really easy for me to grab her and pop her into the special crate we use for transporting injured animals.”
April was first assessed at Gowrie Vet Clinic in Inverell before it was decided she needed further examination. WIRES Emergency Responders Jess and Mel transported her to Friends of the Koala in Lismore, where veterinarian Dr Kate Thomas carried out a full check.
John Grant from WIRES NSW praised everyone involved and shared the happy news this afternoon that April has been given the all clear and will likely make a full recovery.
Mr Grant also used the opportunity to remind drivers to be extra cautious during koala breeding season.
“We see an increase in koalas moving around between August and February, especially at night. Sadly, many don’t survive car strikes. Slowing down between dusk and dawn can make a huge difference.”
While WIRES volunteers often unfortunately respond to tragic outcomes, April’s story is a rare win.
April will remain in care at Friends of the Koala until she is strong enough to be returned to the wild.
For anyone who comes across injured wildlife, WIRES advises calling its rescue line immediately on 1300 094 737 and, if safe to do so, containing the animal until help arrives.
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