Fauna Rescue SA warn of koalas struggling in the heat, and have advice for would-be-rescuers

What do you do if you find a koala suffering in the heat? Fauna Rescue SA say they’ve been inundated with calls, and have some advice for refreshing the marsupials.

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What do you do if you find a koala suffering dehydration?

Fauna Rescue SA say they’ve been inundated with calls amid the current heat, and have some advice for refreshing the marsupials if needed.

They advise would-be-rescuers to lightly mist the koala with a hose, and leave water out in a shallow dish near the base of a tree.

The Koala Rescue hotline [phone] (1300 KOALAS) can be called 24 hours a day.

A poster supplied by Fauna Rescue SA on how to cool down a koala.

Fauna Rescue SA koala coordinator and educator Merridy Montarello said the volunteer service had received many more calls as the heat worsened.

She said koalas clung to trees as a cooling method and could normally get water out of the leaves they ate, but would seek hydration elsewhere if needed.

“The heat is just drying up the leaves so there’s no fluid, so they are coming down, looking for water and getting exhausted,” she said.

“Poor things, they’re in dire straits at the moment. Our heat has become so much hotter. With less shade and less water, they’re struggling.”

A koala with heat stress at Waite Campus. This one was given water, and improved without needing to go to the vet. Picture: Merridy Montarello

A thirsty koala drinks out of a bucket at Mitcham Primary Reserve. Buckets of water can help but shallow dishes are better, in case of small joeys. Picture: Craig Cook

Koalas are exposed to several other threats while on the ground, including foxes, dogs, cars and even the hot roads.

Callers to Fauna Rescue SA have reported koalas on the ground, hunched over and seeming very lethargic.

Ms Montarello told of koalas that had been found with third-degree burns on their pads, or in shock after a dog attack.

Others already suffering from a kidney disease had their symptoms exacerbated by the dehydration.

Ms Montarello said the vets had been fantastic in caring for the koalas in worse condition, who upon recovery are released back into the bush near where they were picked up.

She urged anyone who finds a koala in apparent distress to call Fauna Rescue on 1300 562 527.

“Give us a call, don’t hesitate, especially when they don’t go back up (the tree) at night time,” she said.

“We’ll check them out and get them some fluid.”