Mystery surrounds koala’s cause of death on Hay Point beach

GRAPHIC WARNING: Images of a dead koala partially buried in sand at Hay Point suggest a dog attack but conservationists cannot be certain.

Photos of the dead koala on a Hay Point beach, shared on social media. Picture: Breeoni Moore Cogill

GRAPHIC WARNING: Photos contained within this story could be distressing for some readers.

Wildlife carers suspect a domestic pet attacked and killed a koala found dead on a beach south of Mackay at the weekend.

The large male koala was found partially buried in sand on the beach at Hay Point, with its body showing injuries Padaminka Nature Refuge’s Ian Gottke said were consistent with a dog attack.

“We don’t know whether it got washed up or killed down there,” Mr Gottke said.

“It was, more than likely looking at the pictures that we received, a dog attack.

“I’ve never seen one down the beach, dead. But there are a few down there.

“We’ve been at Padaminka for 11 years and in 11 years, we haven’t seen any washed up.”

Mr Gottke said the koala was moved before he was able to inspect it and take DNA samples that would have been sent to conservationists and universities for review.

It also would have determined a cause of death, he said.

Photos of the dead koala on a Hay Point beach, shared on social media. Picture: Breeoni Moore Cogill

“It is quite confronting, and it would have been nice to be able to retrieve the body,” he said.

“But from what we could see, it was quite healthy, a male, and didn’t show any glaring signs of disease but it did have injuries to its side.”

Padaminka Nature Refuge is a privately-owned refuge under the Conservation Act and specialises in koala rescues and rehabilitation.

While car strikes were the most common injuries and causes of death, Mr Gottke said dog attacks had occurred in Dysart and Middlemount in recent years.

But calls for injured koalas were on the decline with the introduction of fencing along the Bruce Highway.

“There have been a lot less since Main Roads put in the fauna fencing in the hot spots,” he said.

Photos of the dead koala on a Hay Point beach, shared on social media. Picture: Breeoni Moore Cogill

“We’re working with main roads and a university on mapping that shows the hot spots and that in turn identifies where the fauna fencing is needed.

“The incidents of car hits has dramatically reduced in the past year – we have gone from having 20-odd in care in one year, down to nine.”

Mr Gottke said koalas were typically more active around breeding season from August and September through to late December and early January.

He urged anyone who spotted a koala, either alive or dead, to take a photograph and send it to him, along with a GPS location, for tracking.

Injured koalas should be reported to 1300 ANIMAL.