10/01/2024
🐨 Meet Josh, the brave young koala who recently had a close call on the outskirts of Campbelltown. Just before Christmas, Josh was found alone and his mother could not be located, our Wildlife Hospital team in Camden assessed his health, suspecting a possible encounter with a dog or a brush with a vehicle.
Affectionately named Josh, this 2kg joey was found to be milk-dependent but in the process of weaning to a diet of eucalyptus leaves. During his stay in the Hospital, he clung to a toy "mother" for comfort and underwent a thorough examination. The good news: no fresh wounds, just some dried liquid (likely dog saliva) on his flank. However, a mystery unfolded as we discovered he was missing a digit on his right fore paw, with an unusual fur pattern on the adjacent one.
Radiographs and blood tests revealed Josh's overall good health despite his eventful start. The cause of the missing digit remains a mystery, but it has healed remarkably well. Now under the care of a licensed wildlife expert, Josh's climbing ability—an essential survival skill—will be closely monitored as he grows, ensuring he's ready for release. The latest progress report is incredibly encouraging, and we're optimistic about his future in the wild.
So, if at some point in the future, you come across a koala missing digit 4 of his right fore paw, it might just be our resilient friend, Josh .