A koala joey no older than 10 months is in safe hands after falling victim to a reported attack by a large dog at Thompsons Beach in Cobram on Monday, November 18.
The 2.5kg marsupial has since been in the care of volunteers at Dutch Thunder Wildlife Shelter in Koonoomoo.
Dutch Thunder owner-operator Kylee Donkers said the joey will be in care for at least the next twelve months.
“She’s in [ICU], by herself, it’s quite dark in there and being kept as cool as possible in this warm weather,” Mrs Donkers said.
When Mrs Donkers arrived at Thompsons Beach following a report from a concerned local, she found the joey bleeding profusely.
“There was an extreme amount of blood loss,” Mrs Donkers said.
She said the joey sustained at least 19 wounds, primarily around its throat and neck.
“Because of her thick fur, no wounds were visible. But her neck was covered in blood.”
The joey was sedated and wrapped in a blanket before Mrs Donkers took her to the shelter.
“She was quite lethargic. She did growl a couple of times, but she was quite happy to be wrapped in a blanket,” Mrs Donkers said.
At the shelter, the joey is being fed koala milk from a specialised supplier. She is also receiving an oral fluid supplement alongside a critical care multivitamin paste and freshly picked gum leaves.
Kylee said last summer, Dutch Thunder Wildlife Shelter responded to at least a dozen reported dog attacks - mostly on koalas.
“For some reason, they [the koalas] were on the ground,” she said.
“It’s important to get our pets out and walked, but just be respectful.”
Mrs Donkers shared advice for managing an injured animal.
“Every situation is extremely different. So the best thing to do is call for assistance, and then we will advise the next steps from there,” she said.
The joey’s mother is still missing.
Mrs Donkers expressed concern for the mother’s wellbeing, and requested anyone with information to contact the shelter’s 24-hour emergency hotline on 0417 560 910.