After four months of rest and recuperation at the Cluden Wildlife Management Unit, a young, male koala was recently released back into his natural habitat. The Koala was rescued by a Boyne Valley resident who found it on the side of the road, blinded by a severe case of conjunctivitis. The Koala was taken to “Cluden” where it was given the code name, KG1 and was treated by staff from the Koala Research Centre of Central Queensland. KG1 was given a course of antibiotics and also underwent three operations to remove scar tissue left by the conjunctivitis. The antibiotics used in KG1’s treatment were donated by Provet, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bayer, Novartis, Smith & Nephew.

Wildlife Manager, Mr Barrie Elliott said that KG1 would have died without the treatment.

“KG1 had a very bad case of conjunctivitis, he was blind and alone on the side of the road and unable to climb or find food.

“Our Centre for Environment Management veterinarian, Dr Leonie Andersen prescribed courses of antibiotics and also operated three times to remove the scar tissue that caused the blindness,” said Mr Elliott.

KG1 has now been off antibiotics for a number of weeks, has gained weight and is capable of returning to his natural environment.

The koala will not be fitted with a tracking device but he has been tagged with coloured ear-tags making him easily identifiable.

“We’d like to keep tack of him in an unobtrusive way, so if anyone sees him we are asking them to contact Central Queesland University on 4970 7310 with details of his location.

The Cluden Wildlife Management Unit was established last year with the support of Central Queesland University, Central Queensland Koala Volunteers, Gladstone Area Water Board, Stanwell, Comalco, and the Department of Main Roads.