A curious young koala is safely back in her home territory after her rescue by Redlands Wildlife Rescue volunteers.
Redland City Council’s Redlands Wildlife Rescue program coordinates volunteers for two local wildlife services: Redlands Wildlife Care Network (RWCN) and Redlands After-hours Wildlife Ambulance (RAWA).
RAWA volunteer Jenny Brycker said the koala was rescued in the middle of a round-about trying to climb a steel power pole.
You may also like these stories
“‘We quickly collected the young koala from the unsafe site. Once in the cage, I didn’t want to disturb the koala further. I thought this little koala was a boy, so I named him Henry but it turns out Henry was actually a Henrietta,” Jenny said.
She was taken to Moggill Koala Hospital, given a health check and released a day later into her home territory.
Redland City Council Wildlife Officer Lisa Bailey said Henrietta’s rescue was a great example of the work volunteers are doing to protect local wildlife.
“These volunteers are highly regarded and appreciated not only by Council, but other wildlife organisations and the Redlands community for the work they do to assist with sick, injured and orphaned wildlife,” Lisa said.
“These volunteers are an asset to the community and we’d love to see more people come on board and give their time to these services. We really need more volunteers to join our roster and attend our upcoming induction days.”
RWCN (Telephone advice service) operates 8am to 5pm each day and needs volunteers for their phone roster. Volunteers work from home providing advice to the community and are rostered on for one week in every six to eight weeks.
RAWA (wildlife ambulance) operates from 5pm to 8am each day and needs volunteers to provide emergency rescue and transport for sick and injured wildlife in Redlands and adjoining areas of the Koala Coast. To join the RAWA, you must be 18 years of age, hold a current open or probationary driver’s license and live in the Redlands.
New volunteers are provided with comprehensive training and need to attend an induction session as follows:
RWCN Monday 23 November – 9am – 12pm
RAWA Saturday 28 November – full day
Jenny says volunteering for RAWA is time well spent.
“I encourage anyone who has a love of wildlife to join the Redlands Wildlife Rescue Service,” she said.
“Knowing we are helping sick, injured and orphaned animals like Henrietta as well as educating our community about living with them, is the real reward.”
If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Redlands IndigiScapes Centre on 3824 8611 or email [email protected]
