A local wildlife rescuer, Richard Nicholas, was sent on a mission after a fisherman called WIRES to report a koala in trouble on the rocks at Walgun, beyond the Little Wategos walking track below the Byron Lighthouse.
The WIRES and Friends Of The Koala (FoK) emergency hotline teams worked together to contact Mr Nicholas.
Mr Nicholas, who trained in koala rescue with both FoK and WIRES, has been a rescuer for around two year – but still didn’t know what to expect when he got to Byron Bay.
Challenging terrain
Mr Nicholas said the most challenging aspect of the rescue was the terrain. ‘The koala was a fair way out on the cape, so after an initial hike up the lighthouse track and down to the Little Wategos track, we then had to climb around the outside of the lookout platform and scramble down the rocks to reach him.’
Mr Nicholas said often the hardest part of a rescue is containing the koala. ’In this case, he was exhausted and quite easy to scoop into a bag. Of course, we then had to hike back up the same way carrying him, which added extra challenges.
‘I was very grateful to be accompanied by my WIRES colleague Mark Badgery. I contacted Mark after receiving the initial call from FoK, knowing he was slightly closer and could reach the location before me. As it turned out, the extra set of hands was invaluable.’
Mr Nicholas said that when he got to the koala, whom since has been dubbed ‘Little Watego’, it was clearly in trouble. ‘He looked very waterlogged and was essentially stranded on the rocks. He showed signs of exhaustion – no wonder, given what it must have taken to end up so far from his habitat.
‘Thankfully, there were no obvious injuries.’
How did he get there?
It’s difficult to know for certain how the koala came to be on the rocks. There are unconfirmed reports from fishermen that a koala had been seen in the water the day before he was found, so it’s possible he entered the ocean elsewhere and was washed up onto the rocks.
Mr Nicholas said after consultation with the vet and rescue organizations, it it thought that he came from a population of koalas about 500m to 1km away at Palm Valley (The Pass).
‘At around three-years-old, he is at the age when young males are forced out by dominant males to find their own territory. It’s hard to say exactly how he got there, but it seems likely he made his way to Wategos and followed the coastline along the beach, rather than the walking tracks we used for the rescue.’
Getting the koala to hospital
Once the rescue was complete, Little Watego needed to be transported to the Northern Rivers Koala Hospital (NRKH) in Lismore. ‘He travelled quite well,’ said Mr Nicholas. ‘He wasn’t showing signs of stress, but he was very quiet and clearly exhausted. As is common practice, Mark and I provided fresh leaf for the journey. Often even very sick koalas will munch on their food during transport, but Little Watego didn’t seem interested in eating.
‘I had arranged to meet fellow FoK rescuer Ina Egermann at a halfway point on the journey to the NRKH. Ina took him the rest of the way and handled the admission to the hospital for treatment.
Once at the koala hospital, Little Watego was looked after by the staff there including Dr Kate Thomas, (BVetBiol, DVM – Bachelor of Veterinary Biology, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine). Dr Thomas has had 10 years experience in veterinary medicine and Little Watego was delivered into her very safe hands.
A three year old boy
Dr Thomas said Little Watego is estimated to be around three years old. ‘When he first came into care, he was stressed and dehydrated, with clear signs of seawater ingestion. His blood tests showed electrolyte disturbances, and his initial X-rays revealed lung inflammation – both consistent with seawater ingestion, which can be life-threatening for koalas.’
Dr Thomas said Little Watego was placed under general anaesthetic so they could carry out a thorough assessment, and has since had a repeat anaesthetic to reassess his progress. ‘Pleasingly, his electrolytes have normalised and his lungs are showing improvement. He continues to receive supportive care and close monitoring.’
Not natural behaviour
Dr Thomas said it’s very unusual for a koala to be found by the ocean. ‘This isn’t natural behaviour. Sadly, it’s a reflection of how much habitat this species has lost. With their habitats increasingly fragmented, koalas are often forced to cross unsafe or unsuitable areas, which can put them in extreme danger, as we saw with Watego.’
Dr Thomas said the little fella will remain in care under observation until they are confident his lungs have fully recovered and his bloodwork is stable. That may take several weeks, depending on how he responds.
Dr Thomas said that although the goal goal is always to see koalas back in the wild, in Little Watego’s case, a standard release isn’t possible. ‘Because of where he was found, he will need to undergo a formal relocation process, which requires special approval to make sure he is placed into safe and suitable habitat.’
Mating season
Mr Nicholas says his rescue ‘season’ fluctuates quite a lot in Byron. ‘In mating season (July–December), when they are on the move, it can be weekly or even multiple times a week. At other times of the year we might go months without a rescue. Environmental events can also play a part — for example, Cyclone Alfred obviously increased the strain on our local koalas.’
Mr Nicholas says he believe all wildlife deserves help and protection. ‘However koalas in particular are an endangered species in NSW. They face multiple threats to survival including habitat loss, disease, road accidents and dog attacks.
‘My love and respect for them has only grown’
‘Since working with koalas, my love and respect for them has only grown. In my experience they are intelligent, stoic animals with distinct personalities and charm. And of course, their cute, fluffy appearance has no doubt contributed to their iconic status around the globe.
Mr Nicholas is happy he was able to successfully rescue Little Watego. ‘I haven’t had the chance to visit Little Watego yet, but I am following his progress very closely.
‘I am getting regular updates from vet Kate Thomas. I understand he is doing well despite the ordeal.’
Mr Nicholas says Little Watego’s the situation highlights the plight of our local koalas in Byron – particularly habitat loss.
‘While it’s natural for dispersing males like him to be on the move at this time of year, their habitat continues to be depleted by human activity at an alarming rate. They are being pushed to the fringes where they face greater dangers from roads, dogs, and other threats.
An icon under threat
‘This iconic species is under serious threat and desperately needs our help to survive. We are lucky to still have a healthy population of koalas in Byron, and I implore everyone to be alert to their presence, especially when driving in and around the Shire.’
If anyone is concerned about a koala, please call Friends of the Koala on 02 6622 1233 (friendsofthekoala.org) or WIRES on 1300 094 737 (wires.org.au). Both organisations run a 24/7 rescue hotline.
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