Early on Sunday 17 June the Hospital received a report that a young koala was being attacked by magpies on top of a telegraph pole. Our night time rescuers went out to see what could be done, only to find the koala was now doing circus tricks on the high voltage wires. The magpies were still sitting on top of the pole keeping an eye on the koala.
Sue O’Neill, who phoned in the rescue call, provided a foam mattress and large blanket to assist in the rescue. The rescue team, including Sue, then spent the next hour holding the blanket underneath the koala in case he/she fell.
Essential Energy were also called and duly sent out Jules in a truck to assess the situation. Jules extended an insulated pole and placed the end of the pole up to the wires intending to try and knock the koala off so that the rescuers could catch him/her in a blanket. Fortunately the koala had the good sense to grab on to the end of the pole and was then lowered into the blanket.
The koala turned out to be about 18 months old and female. She was named Edwards Montana and she was positively exhausted. After a bit of R&R at the Koala Hospital she will be relocated to a more suitable area.
Sue O’Neill, Essential Energy and Jules all deserve a big thank you for all their help.