She was stuck 😟
A few weeks ago, a homeowner in Hamilton, Australia, was outside with her dogs when she noticed a small koala moving around the backyard. The dogs frightened the koala, causing her to climb up onto the metal carport to get away.
Once she reached the top, the koala stayed there for hours. She didn’t seem willing, or able, to come back down, so the worried homeowners contacted Hamilton Wildlife Shelter for help.
Shelly Burrowes, the owner-operator of the shelter, came to the property as quickly as she could. When she arrived, she realized the koala had likely become stuck. While koalas are skilled climbers, getting down can be much harder for them, especially when they are on smooth metal surfaces like poles, fences or carports.
To help the koala climb down safely on her own, Burrowes came up with a creative solution. She turned one of the slippery metal poles into something that looked and felt more like a tree.
Using cable ties, she attached gum branches all the way down the pole. She also made sure some leaves reached above the roofline so the koala would notice them. Since koalas eat gum leaves, Burrowes hoped the branches would encourage the frightened animal to climb down.
When Burrowes left the property around 10 p.m., the koala was still on the roof. By morning, she had disappeared.
Although the koala had managed to get down, Burrowes worried she might wander toward the busy road nearby. Later that day, her concern proved right when she received a report that the koala had been seen crossing the street.
By the time Burrowes arrived, the koala had already climbed into a tall tree and was out of reach.
A few days later, the same koala was spotted in another unsafe area. This time, a Hamilton Wildlife Shelter rescuer named Kelly was able to safely catch her and move her away from traffic, dogs and other dangers.
The rescue was a huge relief. The koala had faced several serious threats, including busy roads, domestic pets and shrinking safe habitat — problems that many koalas in Australia continue to face.
Thankfully, this koala survived her difficult journey. When rescuers finally released her in a safer natural area, she seemed instantly more relaxed. She climbed the nearest gum tree and began eating right away, finally back where she belonged.