Koala Park Sanctuary loses appeal and told by judge its fine could have been much worse

ONE of Australia’s well known wildlife centres has been lashed by a judge as he threw out its appeal over a big fine and ban of acquiring new koalas.

The chlamydia-infected koalas showed symptoms including swollen, weeping eyes. Picture: RSPCA

ONE of Australia’s most iconic wildlife centres has been lashed by a district court judge as he dismissed its appeal over a hefty fine and ban of acquiring new koalas.

In a decision handed down at Parramatta District Court on Monday, Judge Norman Delaney told the Koala Park Sanctuary it would have received an even greater punishment if he had been involved with the case earlier.

The Koala Park was sentenced in February for failing to provide veterinary treatment to some of its koalas. It was fined $75,000 — consisting of a $20,000 fine as well as nearly $55,000 in costs to the RSPCA — and banned from purchasing, acquiring or taking possession or custody of any animal for six months.

The park, in Sydney’s west, pleaded guilty to three counts of failing to provide veterinary treatment to animals in its care in November.

Shocking photographs taken by RSPCA inspectors showed emaciated and disease ridden koalas. in the Sanctuary’s care.

Tassie the Koala was so unwell he eventually had to be put down.

Following an RSPCA investigation, the park was charged.

The sanctuary launched an appeal against the $75,000 fine and six month acquisition ban, but that battle ended in court on Monday when Judge Delaney dismissed the koala sanctuary’s appeal. He went even further, telling the court if he had presided over the original case he would have doubled the fine amount and tripled the ban to 18 months.

The charges related to five koalas at the park, called Tassie, Carcoola, Kamarah, Alinga and Tadpole, reported the Hills Shire Times.

Another example of a koala whose eyes were almost swollen completely shut.

Other koalas showed patchy fur over their bodies.

An RSPCA inspector discovered the five koalas showed signs of chlamydia, a sexually transmitted disease common in wild koalas but rare in captive populations.

The fine costs related to the treatment and intensive care of Tassie, a grey male koala, who was seized by the RSPCA and found to be dehydrated with an emaciated body and signs of chlamydia.

The pictures showed the koalas with swollen eyes, “wet bottoms”, and infected mouths — all signs of chlamydia.

Tassie was eventually put down and the other sick koalas all later died.

After the sentencing RSPCA inspector Donna Morgan said she hoped it would deter other organisations.

“I think it sends to a strong message to people involved in businesses where animals are being displayed that you have to put the animals first,” she said.

A spokeswoman for the Koala Park Sanctuary told news.com.au they had no comment about the appeal dismissal.