NEWSLETTER
January/February 2014
From The President
2014 is off to a busy start, but I still have a few things to report from the end of 2013. Helen and I were involved in a joint effort with Ipswich City Council, Powerlink and SEQ Catchments at the launch of “Cherish the Environment”. This is a programme to build a koala bank where areas suitable to tree planting are identified now and not when it’s too late. “Offsets” are not something that we necessarily agree with unless in an area adjoining, or in close proximity, to existing habitat to create a corridor where koalas can move of their own free will. We set up a display at the Grandchester railway just before Christmas to launch the programme.
I’m hoping everyone had a really good Christmas break and a pleasant start to 2014. You will see from the rescue column that our koala ambos were quite busy.
Welcome to new members and carers. You might ask yourself why we call it a rescue column when most of the koalas are either dead on arrival or rescued only to end up being euthanased after assessment? It’s a bit too complicated to explain in my report (I’m always in trouble for making it too long anyway). We (Helen aka dedicated secretary) has in past newsletters explained the process. We will endeavour to cover this area in the next newsletter.
As with all wildlife in our care, rehabilitation and return to the wild is why we do what we do. The “Code of Practice” is pretty much the bible for wildlife carers. You will find a copy on the EHP website.
This year will mark the 20th anniversary for IKPS and over the years we have grown in numbers – and in particular, carers. To maintain some sort of order, credibility and professionalism, we need for you (carers) to work within the guidelines and standards set by us. IKPS has recently made some important changes to our Constitution. When you receive your permit you will notice there are a few new restrictions that must be taken on board as a carer with IKPS. We still have to report to compliance officers at EHP. Remember it is a privilege to be able to nurture these special critters and ensure they have the best possible chance of survival in the wild.
All Committee Members, Register Heads and the Wildlife Registrar are more than happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have – but not gossip.
Ruth
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
President Ruth Lewis 5464 6274
Vice President Marilyn Spletter 0412 630 739
Treasurer Graham Mason 3288 8870
Secretary Helen Darbellay 3282 5035
W/life Registrar Ann Whatley 0423 655 181
Newsletter Editor Helen Darbellay 3282 5035
REGISTER HEADS
Macropods Graham Mason 3288 8870
Ruth Lewis 5464 6274
Possums /gliders Marilyn Spletter 0412 630 739
Ann Priestly 0403 442 551
Bats/Flying foxes Helen Darbellay 3282 5035
Birds Graham Mason 3288 8870
Echidnas Ruth Lewis 5464 6274
Koalas Helen Darbellay 3282 5035
Carers, by now you should have all received your Wildlife Rehabilitation Permit. It was either posted to you earlier this month or is included with this news-letter. If you have paid your membership fee but have still not received your permit, please contact Helen.
NEW MEMBERS
I.K.P.S. extends a very warm
welcome to our newest members:
BELINDA PARKINSON
THE WILLIAMS FAMILY
PHIL & KIM ARGENT
KIRSTY LAX
LYNETTE GALLIFORD
SUSAN BELL
STEVEN NELSON
NATASHA GIBSON
HEIDI ROSS
JOANNE TODD
HELEN OLDHAM
SAM JUKAC
LYNCON & DANIELLE SPLETTER
MICHELE & ANDREW McDONALD
CASEY ALLAN
And our very new members
MATILDA & COOPER ALLAN
(Congratulations Annette and Casey)
Rot
12/8/13 MORWINCHA (on the way to Aratula) – adult male hit by car (100klm). He had a fractured jaw, severed tongue and his right hand
was stripped to the bone. Euthanased.
16/8/13 AMBERLEY – adult male found on the ground at the RAAF base. He was euthanased, but the good news is he was at least 15 years
old. He was in poor condition as his teeth were completely worn down and he was unable to eat.
18/8/13 CALVERT – adult female found dead on the road. She was hit by a car (100k) and suffered massive injuries. She also had
diseased reproductive organs.
20/8/13 PALEN CREEK – adult male (dead) hit by a car (100k) – ruptured lungs and liver, fractured jaw and crushed chest.
22/8/13 MOUNT HALLEN – adult female suffering severe cystitis, body score 2 – euthanased.
23/8/13 ESK – adult female and baby. Mum was euthansed – her injuries from the car hit were not that bad, but she was found to have
ovarian cysts and her uterus was also diseased. Her baby was fostered (see Our Orphans).
27/8/13 BRYMAROO (the back of Burke – near Jondaryan) – AROO - adult female, just, only approximately 2 years old, hit by a car (100k).
One of the lucky ones. She was assessed and treated at MKH and has been released.
2/9/13 TOOGOOLAWAH – MITCH – adult male with mild cystitis. He was treated at MKH and has been released.
3/9/13 ROADVALE – adult male found sitting in the middle of the road. Rescued by a passing motorist. He was assessed at MKH and
euthanased due to kidney failure and wasting.
4/9/13 BELLBOWRIE (had the work hat on for this one) – AIKO – adult female probably picked by magpies. She was treated at MKH and
has been released. [Ed’s note: She did not have the work hat on she had the work shirt on -
6/9/13 JEEBROPILLY – adult male hit by a car (100k) – this spot is notorious for koala deaths. He had ruptured lungs and liver. Euthanased.
6/9/13 LOCKYER WATERS – adult female sitting on the ground (first sign that things are not looking good). She had pneumonia and was in
really poor condition. But she was 18 years old. This is really, really good for a koala in the wild. Just worn out.
9/9/13 MORWINCHA – NANCY – adult female hit by a car on the Cunningham Highway. Only 2 years old. Another lucky one. She was
assessed at MKH and released the next day.
9/9/13 RATHDOWNEY – adult male found dead on the road. Squished. Obviously hit by a car/s.
10/9/13 COOMINYA – adult female with a body score of 0 – not good odds – diseased reproductive organs. Euthanased.
11/9/13 SPRINGFIELD LAKES (this is one of the suburbs that we thought had no koalas left) – PERRI – adult female found herself in a rather
precarious situation, (rather precarious for the rescuer too). She was assessed at MKH and released the same day.
10/9/13 KILLARNEY – just a baby (770gr) found dead on the ground. Unfortunately this is something we have no control over. Koalas DO fall
out of trees – or are tossed by big males intent on ‘romancing’ the mum. He had cranial bruising and damaged lungs.
12/9/13 CLARENDON - adult male attacked by a dog (breed unknown). He was dead before we picked him up. Punctured caecum and lungs.
5/9/13 BRYDEN – adult female hit by a car (100k). DEAD – not much left to post mortem.
6/9/13 AMBERLEY – CAMO – adult male found on the RAAF base. He was admitted to MKH for conjunctivitis treatment. His eyes were really
badly swollen. After several days of treatment to reduce the swelling, it was discovered that he was totally blind and had a growth
behind one eye. Unfortunately he was euthanased.
16/9/13 PURGA – adult female. She had a cranial facial tumour, ovarian cysts and was approximately 10 years old. She was euthanased.
19/9/13 CROSSDALE (Esk-ish) – 500gr female baby found dead on the ground. Post mortem indicated that the baby may have been taken by
a bird of prey and dropped. Both lungs had puncture marks.
21/9/13 TOOGOOLAWAH – adult female – pneumonia, bursas, diseased uterus, cystitis, poor body score and 10 years old. She had the lot.
Euthanased.
22/9/13 TOOGOOLAWAH – PONTIAC – adult male with a microchip had been previously admitted to the koala hospital. Found on the ground
with a body score 1. He had cystitis and kidney failure. Euthanased.
23/9/13 FERNVALE – IR (a name given to koalas that are an INSTANT RELEASE). I prefer to give them names, but the guys at the hospital
don’t have much imagination. He was assessed and released the same day.
24/9/13 CROSSDALE – adult female (we are thinking that her baby was the 500gr baby taken by the bird of prey) found a few days after the
baby. Dead on the ground from disease and wasting.
24/9/13 HARLIN – adult female hit by car (100k) – dead.
24/9/13 GLENESK – adult male hit by car (100k) – dead.
24/9/13 COOMINYA – adult male hit by car (100k) – dead.
(Many of the dead car hits are picked up by our Toogoolawah Rescue Team and are kept in a freezer then transported to MKH
en masse for post mortem – what a hobby).
26/9/13 WARRILL VIEW – adult ‘bits’ – hit by a car or more likely a truck or two on the Cunningham Highway (70k). Dead.
27/9/13 PATRICK ESTATE – RED RIDING HOOD (I can’t remember why this name, there was a perfectly good reason). Adult female
attacked by a Wolfhound
28/9/13 HATTON VALE – adult female – bursers, totally blind, and in poor condition. Euthanased.
2/10/13 GOOMBURRA – adult male with severe conjunctivitis, totally blind, infection in the gums and wasting. Euthanased.
6/10/13 GOODNA – adult male totally blind and wasted. Euthanased.
8/10/13 PINE MOUNTAIN – adult female attacked by a German Shepherd. She had multiple ribs torn from the spine and puncture wounds.
The injuries probably would have healed, but she also had ovarian cysts, diseased uterus and severe cystitis, and body score 4.
Euthanased.
9/10/13 LOCKYER WATERS – CHIPPEN – adult male. He weighed 5.2kg and was only 2 years old. He’s gonna be a big boy. He was picked
up on the ground, assessed at MKH and released (someone gave him a name).
11/10/13 CROFTBY (Boonah-ish) – CARNEY – adult female kicked by cows, assessed and treated at MKH and released a week later.
12/10/13 SPRING CREEK – adult female – diseased reproductive organs, poor body score. Euthanased.
12/10/13 HARRISVILLE – adult female with cystitis and a body score 1. She was 13 years old. Euthanased because her teeth were totally
worn away.
12/10/13 PURGA – adult male found on the ground. He had severe cystitis which had caused his kidneys to fail, poor condition. Euthanased.
14/10/13 AMBERLEY – SARAH - adult female originally rescued in 2005 from the RAAF base. Her and her baby (Celia) had fallen from a
tree. They were released back to the base together after a short stay at MKH. Celia (the baby) has since been admitted to MKH with
disease and was euthanased. This time Sarah was assessed, she’s 12 years old, in really good condition and has been released.
She could have many more years yet.
17/10/13 LOWOOD – adult female with severe cystitis – she was prolapsing. Euthanased.
17/10/13 MILBONG – adult female 9 years old. Ovarian cysts. Euthanased.
21/10/13 MOOGERAH – adult male hit by a car (100klm) found dead on the road.
21/10/13 ARATULA – sub adult male hit by a car/truck (100k) on the Cunningham Highway. Dead.
23/10/13 ROBERT – adult male found in the canopy of a tree that had been bulldozed for clearing. He also has conjunctivitis and is still
receiving treatment at MKH. He will be released but where to put him back?
23/10/13 CROSSDALE – sub adult female 1.5kg, hit by a car (100k). Dead.
27/10/13 BELLBOWRIE - HAMBERGER – adult male attacked by magpies (same place as AIKO – maggies are nasty in Bellbowrie. Treated
for abrasions to his nose and released a couple of weeks later.
29/10/13 LOWOOD – adult female with a body score 1, found on the ground. Diseased ovaries. Euthanased.
29/10/13 ARATULA – adult female, blind, diseased, body score 1. Euthanased.
30/10/13 MOUNT ALFORD – adult female hit by a car. Her injuries were minor, but she had cystitis, and diseased ovaries. Euthanased.
31/10/13 WILLOWBANK – adult female, blind, diseased ovaries, cystitis and wasted. Euthanased.
9/11/13 SPRING CREEK – adult female – same old story. Diseased ovaries, severe cystitis, wasted. Euthanased.
11/11/13 LOWOOD – BLUEY – adult male treated at MKH for conjunctivitis and mild cystitis. He has been released YAHOO.
14/11/13 ROADVALE – adult male (2.5 years old) found dead on the ground. Injuries were consistent with a fall from a tree.
16/11/13 HATTONVALE – adult female, emaciated, pneumonia, cystitis. Euthanased.
16/11/13 LIMESTONE RIDGES – adult female. Had been in the same tree for a couple of weeks. She was in really poor condition, had
pneumonia, cystitis and diseased ovaries. She was euthanased. The good news is her baby (see our orphans), who has
conjunctivitis has been fostered and is responding well to treatment and hugs and kisses.
20/11/13 ROSEVALE – was admitted to MKH with severe conjunctivitis. On further examination it was discovered that he was completely
blind. Euthanased.
21/11/13 ROSEWOOD – EUCA was rescued by a passing motorist who turned up at the R & R clinic with the koala sitting on her lap. She
had been hit by a car (60k), admitted to MKH and has been released. She weighed 2.9kg – probably not long left mum.
23/11/13 BOONAH – IR – adult female found in the middle of Boonah. She was assessed, microchipped and released the same day.
29/11/13 PURGA – MORRIS – another youngie probably just left mum and got a bit lost. He was assessed at MKH, spent some time in Kindy
and has now been released.
3/12/13 NANANGO – picked up from QPWS in Toowoomba – adult male found dead. Dog attack – multiple punctures.
8/12/13 LAKE WIVENHOE – adult female found dead on the ground – injuries consistent with a fall from a tree. Post mortem also showed
she also had ovarian cysts.