How did he end up out there?
A young koala, later named Oscar, found himself stranded on a cardinal marker platform in the middle of a lake in Victoria, Australia. After swimming across the water, likely startled by something on land, Oscar was exhausted and unable to swim back.
Debra, a local resident walking around Montague Point, spotted the koala and immediately called Koalas of Raymond Island (KoRI), a local rescue group. Koalas are not strong swimmers, and with heavy, wet fur, Oscar was at risk of not making it back to land on his own.
The KoRI team sprang into action, and Jane, a member of the rescue group, asked for help from a nearby boat. With the boat’s assistance, Jane managed to safely rescue Oscar and bring him back to the shore. The team found no injuries on Oscar, though his fur was damp from spending the night on the platform. Grateful for the rescue, Oscar was offered some fresh manna gum leaves before being released back into the wild.
Once returned to his natural habitat, Oscar quickly climbed to safety, relieved to be back on solid ground. The rescue serves as a reminder of the dangers wildlife can face, and how quick, coordinated efforts can make all the difference in saving an animal’s life.