MEET PENNY- bush fire koala survivor with a story

Penny the Bushfire Survivor Koala from the Pechey Hampton Fires. Photo taken from the cherrypicker by rescuer Brendon Gray from Toowoomba Koala and Wildlife Rescue on 23rd November 2019. (Photos Copyright to Toowoomba Koala and Wildlife Rescue)

 ​MEET PENNY - SURVIVOR WITH A STORY ?.... Penny was found by us high in a very burnt tree in the Perseverance Region of the Pechey Hampton Fires on Saturday 23rd November 2019. She looked very black and burnt from the ground and she was too terrified to be able to be flagged down in the usual koala rescue manner. Toowoomba Regional Council came through for us after talking to us about the difficult rescues and the urgency to save the starving injured koalas, and arranged a cherry picker to rescue Penny and another koala close by ??.
Luckily Brendon has all of his EWP permits to be able to do the koala rescue from up high with the council workers assistance operating the machinery. Honestly we didn’t think Penny’s chances were very good, as she looked pretty terrible - she was immediately given hydration and fresh leaf to eat. She started eating straight away and then was transported to the RSPCA Wacol wildlife hospital for assessment. We were thrilled to hear the next day that Penny had made it through 24hours with treatment and would continue to be rehabilitated at the hospital.... they also informed us of something very exciting, Penny had a 2 day old Joey in her pouch!!! This means that she had given birth after the fires had been though and the baby had managed to climb up her burnt and singed fur into her pouch.....just incredible!! Thankyou to the council, rspca hospital vets and team, and Michael the volunteer driver for your help saving Penny and her precious baby. 

FOLLOW PENNY'S JOURNEY ON FACEBOOK HERE
SUPPORT PENNY'S REHABILITATION HERE

Penny the koala can been seen here prior to rescue - high in the top of the burnt forest. Photos copyright to Toowoomba Koala and Wildlife Rescue.

Photo of the burnt forest at the base of the tree in which Penny the Bushfire Survivor was found. Photos copyright to Toowoomba Koala and Wildlife Rescue

​UPDATE:  9/12/19 We are pleased to say that Penny has now been returned for rehabilitation with us at Toowoomba Koala and Wildlife Rescue until her forest home has re-grown.  Follow our facebook page or check back on this blog for updates.

Penny the Koala - bushfire survivor, settling into rehabilitation with Toowoomba Koala and Wildlife Rescue 9/12/19

FOLLOW PENNY'S JOURNEY ON FACEBOOK HERE
SUPPORT PENNY'S REHABILITATION HERE
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Judi & Brendon Gray
​Toowoomba Koala and Wildlife Rescue