Koala found at base of Byron Bay cliff in hospital after ingesting seawater

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a day ago

A young male koala is undergoing treatment at the Northern Rivers Koala Hospital after falling from rocks and taking an unexpected swim in Byron Bay.
The incident has highlighted the challenges koalas face in the area, with a rapid rate of coastal urban development driving them into smaller pockets of forest.
A fisherman found the damp and "subdued" koala sitting on rocks near a cliff face close to Wategos Beach on Friday.
Northern Rivers Koala Hospital veterinarian Kate Thomas said it seemed the koala had been in the ocean.
"There were some unconfirmed reports from the fishermen that they did observe a koala swimming in the water a couple of days prior," Dr Thomas said.
WIRES volunteer Mark Badgery was the first to reach him and said the koala "was a bit damp as he had swum in the water".
"I had a koala bag with me and, as he was subdued, I was able to pick him up without any struggle," he said.
Another rescuer, Richard Nicholas from Friends of the Koalas, said the animal had minor injuries, including seawater ingestion.
Mr Nicholas said he believed the koala travelled along the beach to try to find a way back to bushland.
"He was lucky he appeared where he did or he may have starved to death, as he had lost a lot of weight," Mr Badgery said.
The rescuers nicknamed him Little Watego.
For many years, Mr Badgery has monitored the koala colony at The Pass, in the Walgun Cape Byron State Conservation Area, around the famous Cape Byron Lighthouse.
He said he recognised Little Watego from his distinct nostril and lip markings as one of the joeys he had seen riding his mother's back a year ago.
Koala breeding season has begun, which Mr Badgery said meant older males were ejecting younger males from their territory.
He said he had observed the alpha male attack the younger koala on three occasions.
Linda Sparrow, co-founder of Bangalow Koalas, said rapid coastal urban development was driving koalas into smaller pockets of forest.
"Sadly, there isn't a lot of habitat along the coast there, where it's not threatened or under development with lots of people and dogs," she said.
"We've been working with National Parks and the local council ... to create a koala corridor."
Mr Badgery said The Pass koala colony needed more feed trees.
Dr Thomas said Little Watego was under close watch at the Northern Rivers Koala Hospital.
"We are worried that he could get pneumonia as his x-rays and blood work indicated he had ingested salt water," she said.
She said tests showed his condition was "already improving" and the inflammation in his lungs had reduced.
"We are now working with our release coordinator and rescue team to organise a suitable relocation site for his release," she said.