Nabiac Austin: From rescue to remarkable recovery

Every now and then, we get a story that reminds us exactly of our why (not that we need reminding!).

Nabiac Austin’s journey began in heartbreak during the 2019-2020 Black Summer Bushfires — found on the side of the road with severe burns, he was brought to the Koala Hospital Port Macquarie by a caring member of the public. Like so many others we treated during this time, his burn injuries were serious. 

Nabiac Austin in care c2020

Many didn’t survive.

But, with the specialised and dedicated care from our veterinary team, and koala care volunteers, and a massive dose of the spirit that Austin showed — he made a full recovery.

Nabiac Austin receiving treatment from then Clinical Director Cheyne Flanagan and volunteer Amanda

After several months of rehabilitation, Austin was released back into his home range near Nabiac, where he belonged. 

And it’s not often we get to close the loop on these stories but with Austin, we can! We’ve recently discovered that Austin is not only surviving, but thriving.

As part of NSW MidCoast Council’s current koala research program, Austin was recently identified (by his ear tag) and health-checked in the wild and found to be in excellent condition — a strong, healthy boy weighing in at 9.5kg! For all of us at Koala Conservation Australia, this is a story that fills our hearts. 

We have many volunteers in our koala care team that spent time helping Austin heal and sharing their memories of this tragic time. Austin’s recovery and resilience are a beautiful reminder that every rescue, every release, and every conservation effort truly does make a difference.

We see so many koala stories begin in tragedy, but it’s moments like this that keep bringing us back to our why — seeing a koala who has been through so much now living freely, healthy and strong, in his natural habitat.

You can read more about the MidCoast Council’s koala monitoring program here: Koala monitoring to get underway.

We’ll be cheering for Nabiac Austin as he continues to roam his home range — a living symbol of what’s possible when communities, carers, and conservationists come together to protect our precious koalas. 💚

Thank you to Koala Care Volunteer Carole Grant for the photos of Nabiac Austin in care in 2020. Carole helped care for Austin while in care 🌿🐨