18/12/2025
🐨 Important Koala Awareness in our region – Please Take The Time To Read 🐨
If you see a koala on the ground, very low in a branch, or sitting at the base of a tree, please report it to us at Reach Out Wildlife Australia (ROWA) — even if the koala appears calm.
(As we are coming into extreme heat conditions.
please remember HEAT STRESS CAN KILL!!)
A koala on the ground and hunched over is a serious red flag and requires urgent attention.
These scenarios cause serious outcomes, as a koala that cannot climb cannot eat!
A koala that cannot eat then cannot climb! Both of these scenarios will cause muscle weakness and inability to climb.
Koalas are naturally tree-dwelling animals and do not always show obvious signs of illness. This is why community reports are vital — they allow us to carry out proper health checks and assess the koalas overall health before their condition becomes critical.
Sadly, chlamydia has become increasingly apparent in our local area, and koalas often show no visible clinical signs. Early reporting gives them the best chance.
We spend a significant amount of time at Werribee Zoo alongside the amazing specialist vets and the Koala Hospital, assessing koala health, rehabilitating adults, and caring for joeys — but we rely on the community to alert us early.
That said, there are some normal behaviours to be aware of:
* A koala walking from tree to tree is normal, particularly during movement between feed trees — unless you notice:
• A limp
• An obvious injury
• Difficulty climbing
• Repeated attempts to climb without success
Koalas will also often climb and sit in non-eucalyptus trees. This is very common and usually done for shelter and better coverage during certain weather conditions. In these situations, koalas will typically move off at night.
PLEASE REPORT ALL SIGHTINGS OF ANY ROADSIDE OR DECEASED KOALAS Sadly, we are finding too many joeys that have passed away after being thrown from their mum on impact, or wandering away injured and alone. When these incidents aren’t reported, there is no chance for intervention, and joeys that could have been rescued and rehabilitated are missed.
The same applies to adult koalas — injured adults often wander away from the impact site and die from their injuries without help.
Even if a koala appears deceased, reporting allows allows us to check for joeys and properly assess the situation.
If you find an injured koala, please stay nearby and keep sight of it, especially if it is still mobile, so our trained handlers and rescuers can locate it quickly.
Please contact Reach Out Wildlife Australia (ROWA).
Every report helps.
Every koala matters.
Danni 0405 193 807
Chris 0489 069 301
