What to do if you see a koala or find a sick or injured koala.
First check the condition of the koala. Visually obvious symptoms such as lethargy, wasted condition, brown fur, a brown, wet, smelly dirty bottom, inflamed eyes or simply not responding to external stimuli and sitting on the ground indicate the need for medical attention. If you see these symptoms do not touch the koala, keep things quiet, alert your neighbours to tie up dogs and call a koala/wildlife rescue group for advice and, if possible, wait with the animal for help to arrive.
Emergency contact information for a sick or injured koala
Brisbane
RSPCA at 1300ANIMAL (1300 264 625) can advise on your nearest rescue group.
Some other regional options include:
South East Queensland
Australia Wildlife Hospital 1300 369 652 (emergency)
Daisy Hill Koala Ambulance (07) 3299 1032 or 0412 429 898 (day)
Moreton Bay Koala Rescue 0401 080 333 (24 hrs)
Redlands Wildlife Ambulance (07) 3833 4031 (night)
Sunshine Coast Koala Rescue 0423 618 740/0431 300 729 (24 hrs)
Wildcare (Gympie to Gold Coast) (07) 5527 2444 (24 hrs)
Wildlife Rescue Sunshine Coast 0432 310 556
Wildlife Volunteers Assc. Inc. (07) 5441 6200 (24 hrs)
Fraser Coast
Koala Care Fraser Coast (07) 4121 3146
Granite Belt
Granite Belt Wildlife Carers 0418 144 073
Ipswich
Ipswich Koala Protection Society 07 5464 6274 or 07 3282 5035
Somerset
Somerset Region Wildlife Rescue 0400 710 651
Warwick
Warwick Wildlife Care & Rescue 0447 108 619
Whitsundays
Fauna Rescue Whitsundays (07) 4947 3389
If the koala is injured, approach from behind and place a washing basket or cardboard box (or something similar with ventilation) over the animal to prevent it moving away and trying to climb a tree. If possible make sure the koala is in a quiet, stress-free shady place. For example, place an umbrella over the basket while you wait. Do not remove a joey from the pouch, even if the mother is dead. It is important for a vet to remove the joey from the teat. For your own safety do not touch or pick up a wild koala.
If your koala is healthy. Congratulations, this is a special experience. Make sure your visitor is safe and do report your sighting via the Koala Tracker website or via the Queensland Government’s Spot our Species App