2 days ago I saw a healthy looking young Koala sitting on the ground in my garden. In his ear he had a "blue tag No 487". He wasn't shy, and for a minute or so, I thought he wanted to come closer to me.He then climbed up a tree, and stayed there eating and sleeping all afternoon. I remembered, that just before the fires, DSE had released 13 young Koalas into the Bunyip State Park, I thought, they might be interested in finding out where 487 came from?Or if he was one of their Koalas? I rang Vic Wildlife, no, they wouldn't use blue tags. I rang Parks Victoria,they didn't remember if they released any Koalas, (mind you,it was 2 years ago).I rang DSE, they have a "Koala Menagement Officer"(wow!), he wasn't keen on anything.DSE would only be interested, if the Koala was dead! Well, he wasn't dead, not even insured. Healsville Sanctuary next, the vet was very friendly,but had never seen a blue tag, but said, Koalas walk for miles to find a mate. His advice, don't touch,they are aggressive! So, the next day 487 had moved on. I wish him luck! I would still like to know, who he was, and where he came from? Any idea, where else I could find out more?
My best advice would be to contact your state Koala liaison officer, they can probably give you the best advice on where it's from, who tagged it and so on. Pretty cool to have a koala in your backyard though! I'd be soo happy if I found 1 in my backyard one day :D
Sure is strange that nobody was interested Araminta especially when some people are very concerned for them around here at least.
http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2010/10/30/koala-sunshine-coast-wellington/
I too would have been wanting to know his history.
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Hi there, thanks for responding! (Vive la France, for winning the Melbourne Cup) Amateur, cute cat,what's it called? Perthwings,seeing I'm a migrant to this beautiful country, what is a "qongo"?? (Have I met some??)
M-L
Yes, I have met some,they must be related to the other species, the one that accumulates large amounts of money, by investing non existing funds, and when they make mistakes, get rewarded with even larger amounts of money, a government car, and free first class flights for life? They come in many shapes and sizes.
M-L
The Koala 487 story is not over yet! This afternoon my husband went out on his horse, he found lots of people standing on the side of the road taking photos of, ....487.He is so tame,he tried to follow people, I'm sure he was hand reared.My husband came home as quickly as an old man could. I rang wildlife victoria again, took a basket and a brick, and drove to the spot, where 487 was seen.Bu now he was high up in a tree.My mobile didn't work in that location, back home I mailed photos of the koala to wildlife. Suddenly everyone was interested.Shelters , carers rang me, but sorry to say, one more STUPID then the other.(you should read the e-mails.I'm a very bad speller,but better then all of them)I offered to go and sit under the tree, and wait for 487 to come down.Someone was going to help me , this person never turned up.I'm back home again, there is nothing else I can do, it's dark, and I'm scared on my own in the bush. NOBODY rang, NOBODY cares. Tomorrow, when day brakes, I will go out looking for 487. Hope he doesn't get run over by a car during the night!I am soooo angry with those useless people
M-L
Unbelievable Araminta.... there must be someone who is interested in this poor lost fellow!!!! Maybe they are not interested because he is not half squashed or something!
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Did you try calling the emergency hotline of Wildife Victoria? 13 000 94535, they should be able to come and collect the koala as long as you don't get some drongo on the other end who is clueless. My cats name is Cloudy, and just wondering what country are you from Araminta?
Yes Amateur, That's exactly who I called,after 7pm there was a shift change,and I had to explain everything again,they said, they would contact a local shelter, and when I told them I wanted them to ring me back,I got a "what for"? In the end I was very angry,and I think I used a few bad words? It's now 9.30pm, I don't think anyone will ring back. I hope I can find him tomorrow? I like your cat.And I 'm from France,(but now I'm Australian!)
M-L
Haha, yeah I guessed France after re-reading your post when you said "Vive la France, for winning the Melbourne Cup" :) Can't believe you got a response like that though, I guess Perthwings is right unfortunately :/
Morning everyone,after last night, I talked to my daughter,she works at an Animal Emergency Centre, but was away,one phonecall to a wildlife carer they use.First question,as you would expect,what colour tag? 2 seconds later: blue tag,"French Island",released 2 years ago.(she had a good laugh about Vic Wildlife..)She said, if I can find him, she will come and check him out. Is worried about him beeing that tame. Hope I can find him.
M-L
Hi all, I FOUND HIM !! After more phonecalls,lots of persuasion and persistance,we are getting somewhere.2 rangers,1 wildlife carer,and they moved him further into the bush, away from the road and tourists. But, I will go down later and check on him. Suddenly DSE remembered the released koalas,(after I told them where they came from!),even the exact location where they were released. Isn't that funny? I even got a: thanks so much for caring,the world needs people like you, out of them.....Well, if 487 is happy, I'm happy.Don't care about the quangos.Hope this is the end of this saga!
M-L
Not the end yet, a wildlife carer had a look at 487 with binoculars,"SHE" is now high up in a tree,(the koala, not the carer), IT'S A GIRL, and, SHE HAS A BABY. Now finaly everyone worries about her!! Please, wish her luck, she is a bit skinny.We have more people watching over her now!
M-L
Hey, that is great news Araminta. Sometimes you just have to keep shaking the trees till someone falls out .... not the koala though :)
Sunshine Coast Queensland