Koala dies following Cyclone Alfred amid calls for greater animal vigilance

Wildlife carers have called for greater vigilance in reporting injured animals after their efforts to save an adult male koala failed.

Wildlife carers on North Stradbroke Island have called for greater vigilance in reporting injured animals after their efforts to save an adult male koala failed.

Straddie wildlife carer Pauly Debono said the koala had been left for dead for 24 hours in the cyclonic rain and wind before being reported.

“Passersby thought he was dead and no one called him in,” Mr Debono said.

“Luckily Mathew Brown from Queensland Parks and Wildlife service spotted him at Amity campground.

“He thought he was deceased but rang me straight away.”

A koala injured during the Cyclone Alfred weather event has died.

On arrival, Mr Debono said he also thought the koala was dead until he picked him up to bury him.

That’s when he saw his little front paw move and so started the warming process straight away and got him dry.

The koala was taken to the wildlife intensive care unit on the island and booked the Volunteer Marine Rescue to pick him up on Thursday to take him to the mainland.

However, Mr Debono said the koala died just before 3.30am.

“If it was reported straight away, we would have had more chance,” Mr Debono said.

Originally published as Koala dies following Cyclone Alfred amid calls for greater animal vigilance