They couldn’t escape 😟
Family Spots Two Koalas Trapped on Their Pool Cover and Rushes to Save Them
A quiet Sunday morning in Coorparoo, Australia, suddenly turned into a rescue mission when a woman noticed something unusual in her backyard pool.
While feeding her dog, she looked toward the water and spotted a mother koala and her tiny joey stranded on top of the pool cover. The pair was soaked and in serious danger of drowning.
Parts of the cover had shifted and folded over, suggesting the koalas had been desperately trying to find a way out but couldn’t.
Fortunately, the family lived just two houses away from Richard, a volunteer with Koala Rescue Brisbane South. They immediately contacted him, and he rushed over to help.
“Mom and joey were sitting on the pool cover not moving much but soaked through … my neighbors could not work out how long they had been there,” Richard told The Dodo.
The koalas were still in the shallow end of the pool, allowing Richard to carefully wade into the water and reach them with a net.
Despite everything they had just been through, the mother and her baby remained remarkably calm.
“They were both very well-behaved and likely just happy to be out of there,” Richard said.
Once they were safely out of the pool, Richard gently dried them with towels and placed them in the sunshine so they could warm up.
Meanwhile, he contacted the Koala Rescue Brisbane South operator, who arranged for the pair to be taken to the RSPCA for a full veterinary examination.
The vets carefully checked both koalas and were relieved to find that they were doing well. Thanks to the homeowners noticing them in time and Richard arriving quickly, what could have been a tragic situation had a happy outcome.
“The outcome in this case could have been tragic,” Koala Rescue Brisbane South later wrote.
The rescue also highlighted an important reminder for anyone with a swimming pool. Animals can accidentally fall into pools or become trapped on covers, so taking extra precautions can help prevent dangerous situations.
Richard recommends using a pool cover that is securely attached and designed to allow animals to climb off. If that’s not possible, having something such as a rope, towel or ramp in the pool can give an animal a way to get out.
Fortunately, this mother and joey didn’t have to wait long for their freedom.
Just two days later, the RSPCA determined that both koalas were healthy enough to return to the wild. Their caretakers brought them to a nature reserve and placed them at the base of a tree.
The mother immediately began climbing, carrying her baby safely on her back.
Before long, the two disappeared into the trees together — safe, healthy and finally back where they belonged.