Percy the first bushfire KOALA survivor returns to the wild

20th January 2020
​KOALA "PERCY" FROM THE PECHEY HAMPTON BUSHFIRES ? - RETURNS TO THE WILD ?
We were recently blessed to be able to release beautiful boy Koala 'Percy' back to the wild, in what was a 'bittersweet moment'. Percy was the fourth koala that we rescued during the bushfires in in November last year, and the first one that was deemed viable to recover. Percy was starving, singed, traumatized, suffering from smoke inhalation and he had burnt feet and cried terribly on rescue, he was also found to have chlamydia which needed medical treatment. Percy's release however, went very well, he was strong and climbed well - he didn't fret and after taking a good look around, he ventured higher into the tree and began to eat leaf as we watched from afar.
We have to say a big thankyou to the combined efforts of the RSPCA QLD Wildlife Hospital and the Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors Wildlife Hospital for his remarkable recovery. We did hear that Percy tested a few of the vet nurses at the hospital and one has some scars to remember him by! We have shared Percy's story before so I will link those posts for those who may be interested, and I will also upload his release video. Best of Luck Percy from Perseverance- we love you and you will always have a special place in our hearts... ?our first bushfire survivor xxx ????

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17th January 2020
Big thank you to Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors hospital for continuing Percy's treatment after he was transferred there from the RSPCA at Wacol. We were very excited to get a phone call update from Australia Zoo  about Percy today and hear how fiesty he is and that he will soon be ready for return for release! Percy has been keeping the hospital staff on their toes and has bitten a couple of the keepers when they were trying to change his leaf or administer medications!  Cheeky Percy!
J.G. 

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14th January 2020
UPDATE ON PERCY FROM Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors - Wildlife Hospital
When Percy was found, his feet were singed from walking on burning ground. Now, more than ever, koalas need our help. In addition to the devastating fires, these gorgeous Aussie animals are threatened by cars, domestic animals and habitat destruction. Like Percy, many of the koalas we have admitted to the #AustraliaZoo Wildlife Hospital are diagnosed with chlamydia. We’re so proud of the research work the hospital is a part of to cure this disease!
​Photos and words thanks to Australia Zoo.  

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28th November 2019
I was blessed to be allowed to visit Percy in Hospital at the RSPCA Wacol Wildlife Hospital.  Percy looked comfortable and had beautiful leaf to eat and was improving daily.  Very grateful to Lee and the Jaimee for being allowed to view him and see how he was going.   I was thrilled to see how well he was looking - he was certainly lapping up the tlc and fresh leaf from the lovely team at the RSPCA.

​J.G.

Percy in care at the RSPCA Wildlife Hospital, Wacol. Photo Judi Gray

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23rd NOVEMBER 2019
MEET PERCY ? FROM PERSEVERANCE?
It's time we shared the story on Percy the Koala - another bush fire survivor that we rescued on 23rd November from the Pechey Hampton Fire Zone.
Percy was found by chance - sometimes things happen for a reason we believe. I had been called out to another koala rescue and missed the turn off to the property and had to drive further up the road to find a safe place to turn around... it was then that I spotted Percy in a road-verge tree in a very burnt section of eucalyptus forest. Percy was very high up and so I taped the tree with pink tape and wrote the word 'koala' on the tape to return with equipment to rescue him. Brendon and I returned the next morning with permission from the Council, Police and Rural Fire Dept to enter the closed road, and Percy was found still up very high in the same tree. He was terrified from his ordeal of being through the fires and was crying in the tree.. it was heartbreaking. ? The regular method of trying to flag him down was just too distressing and he wouldn't budge, the tree was also deemed unsafe to call in tree-climber rescuers and the ground was still way too hot and sloping to set a tree trap. We decided we would need to organise the hire of a cherry-picker to help. On the way out, we went and spoke to the Toowoomba Region Council tree crew who were working on the section of road, clearing burnt and dangerous trees and we told them about the koala, the pink tape and that we would have to organise equipment to help with the rescue and left them our number. Within a couple of hours we received a call that the council, had pulled strings and arranged for a cherry-picker to arrive on-site that afternoon so we could rescue koalas Percy and Penny who was close by. We were blown away by their kindness and quick organisation.
Brendon went up in the cherry picker with Kev the operator to rescue the distressed koala. Percy was given water, fresh leaf to eat and mild pain relief on rescue and was transported to Toowoomba to meet Michael, the wonderful volunteer RSPCA ambulance driver, who transported Percy to the Wildlife Hospital in Wacol.
We were thrilled to hear from the hospital the next day that Percy was being treated for his injuries, singed fur, smoke inhalation, dehydration and underlying illness.
We look forward to sharing Percy's return story with you in the near future. A big thankyou to everyone involved in rescuing Percy.
​J.G.