Wildlife officer pleads with drivers to slow down after two mother koalas were hit this week on Terranora Rd, Tweed Heads
A wildlife officer has pleaded with drivers to slow down after two pregnant koalas were hit by cars this week, killing one and severely injuring the other.
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A WILDLIFE officer has pleaded with drivers to slow down after two pregnant koalas were hit by cars this week, killing one and severely injuring the other.
Both koalas were hit on a Tweed Heads road just weeks after council installed signs and markings to warn motorists of the new koala zone.
On Tuesday night, a female koala was hit on the road near the quarry. The motorist involved stopped to check on the female and while moving the body felt movement in the tummy.
The motorist transported the heavily pregnant female to Currumbin Wildlife Hospital where the male joey was removed from her pouch and is now in the care of hospital staff.
The motorist was asked by staff to name the joey which he did after his son, Heath.
Currumbin Wildlife Hospital Senior Veterinarian Dr Michael Pyne said unfortunately the mother did not survive the accident but the joey had a good chance of survival in foster care.
"From Terranora Rd alone, we've seen 3 koala admissions in the past week. All of these koalas have suffered severe life-threatening injuries," Dr Pyne said.
"With shorter daylight hours, it is important motorists are aware that koalas are on the move and sharing our roads as we come into the breeding season.
"If you are involved in an accident with a koala, it's critical you call Currumbin Wildlife Hospital immediately or a 24-hour wildlife rescue group such as Friends of the Koala and Tweed Valley Wildlife Carers."
It is the second incident involving pregnant koalas moving on Terranora Rd.
On Friday last week, a healthy koala carrying a tiny joey was hit by a car right in the new koala zone marking. Friends of the Koala responded to the call.
Tweed Shire Council Senior Program Leader Biodiversity Scott Hetherington said the koala, who was named Jamie, suffered serious injuries to her face, and needed immediate surgery.
He said she was now out of intensive care, but had to have one eye removed, and both mother and joey were being monitored by hospital staff.
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He said the new koala zone was installed on Terranora Rd in response to an increasing number of sightings over the past two years.
“In the past 18 months on this stretch of Terranora Rd, residents have reported 16 koalas either been killed, injured or seen crossing the road,” Mr Hetherington said.
"We urge all motorist to drive with extra care at all times of day with koalas on the move around Terranora.
"It is a tragedy to record two terrible incidents this week with not just one, but two mother koalas with joeys hit.
"Of course, koalas can appear out of nowhere, and sometimes we can't avoid wildlife on the road, but if we all slow down, particularly in a koala zone, their chances will be so much higher.
"It's everyone's responsibility to take care on the road, not just for the koalas that live in this area but for our children, neighbours, visitors and fellow residents. It is our responsibility to make sure our children can still see koalas in the wild."
Motorists who hit a koala or other wildlife on the road are urged to stop, check the animal and call for help if needed.
Friends of the Koala and Tweed Valley Wildlife Carers are on call 24 hours a day for rescues.
Friends of the Koala 02 6622 1233 and Tweed Valley Wildlife Carers 02 6672 4789.
‘Legs snapped in half’: Fury over Coast roo hit and run
May 14, 2021
A GOLD Coast woman has detailed the graphic aftermath of a horrifying incident in which a kangaroo and her joey were run down by a car and left for dead in the south of the city.
It’s the brutal reality behind thousands of wildlife strikes recorded across the Coast each year.
The native animals were allegedly struck by a convertible on Currumbin Creek Rd near The Ecovillage at Currumbin on Thursday.
Both mum and her joey died an agonising death soon after, despite the efforts of bystanders and the expertise of Currumbin Wildlife Hospital vets.
The woman took to Facebook to call out the “lovely couple” occupying the convertible.
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“You hit a mother kangaroo and her joey, you slowed down, saw the damage you caused and took off, leaving the carnage for myself and others to clean up,” she said.
“Just so you know the mother was still alive with both her back legs snapped in half, but still trying to hop to her baby joey that was strewn and left for dead in the middle of the road.
“It was an (sic) horrendous scene to come across for anyone to witness.”
The woman thanked a man driving behind the convertible and a woman who “kept the mother kangaroo calm with a towel over her head until she was humanely euthanized 40 minutes later”.
The joey was taken to Currumbin Wildlife Hospital with critical injuries, but sadly did not survive, a spokeswoman confirmed.
The bystander called on the community to respect the animals they share the city with.
“I hope this couple can sleep tonight after their self-centered actions. To just drive off like that was abhorrent,” she said.
A report to Gold Coast City Council last year revealed roughly 1000 native animals had been hit by vehicles each year during 2017-19.
It’s understood the situation has only worsened since then.
Currumbin Wildlife Hospital and the bystander were contacted for comment. The Bulletin has chosen not to identify the woman.
The wildlife hospital advises anyone who hits a native animal should phone Wildcare Australia on (07) 5527 2444 and Gold Coast City Council advises RSPCA can be phoned on 1300 264 625 for help.
Koala photographed crossing busy Gold Coast Highway
October 22, 2020: A BURLEIGH Heads cyclist who snapped a koala scrambling across the Gold Coast Highway had to stop traffic to allow the iconic marsupial to safely cross the road.
Burleigh resident Joy Marks was out for a ride when she spotted the koala trying to make its way across the highway near Burleigh Heads National Park about 4pm on Wednesday.
She and another cyclist alerted drivers so the koala could make its way across and up a tree around Peggs Road.
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“I was riding home and the koala was trying to cross from the national park to the other side,” she said.
“I could hear a koala on the other side, it was like it was calling the other koala.
“I have a very bright bike helmet and I stopped another cyclist in bright gear. We stopped the traffic and got the koala across.”
Ms Marks said the startling photos illustrate the need for animal bridges and underpasses.
“We really need a crossing for the koalas,” she said.
“Down in northern NSW, when you drive down there you see crossings where they can get across the motorway. I’d love to see that happen here.
“I actually spoke to the (council) rangers, because they stopped, and they said they have seen quite a few koalas in the Burleigh national park.
“It looks the koalas are going back and forth to reach food trees.”
Ms Marks said she has seen more koalas on the move during recent rides around Burleigh.
Earlier this year, Currumbin Wildlife Hospital revealed a koala named Tucker had been admitted after he was found trying to cross the highway, while earlier this month the hospital reported a koala was hit and killed by a car, leaving behind a joey named Gracie.
Wednesday’s encounter comes after Gold Coast City Council flagged a koala bridge for the area.
It would be built between Burleigh Ridge Park and the national park as part of the proposed Stage 4 light rail extension, which will not take shape for several years.
Data published by Gold Coast City Council in 2019 estimated 5900 koalas inhabit 41,000 hectares of preferred koala habitat in the city.
Last year, Currumbin Wildlife Hospital admitted 100 koalas for vehicle-related incidents and a report to the council earlier this year revealed between 2017-2019 more than 3000 native animals in the city were struck by a vehicle.
If you spot a koala sick or in immediate danger phone Wildcare Australia on 0755 272 444.
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