Trish is a lovely young female joey found in February 2023 after a microburst storm hit Port Macquarie. She was observed climbing with what seemed to be a paralysed forearm. Koala Conservation Australia’s (KCA) team rescued her and brought her to the Koala Hospital in Port Macquarie. Trish seemed unable to move her right front arm but had no visible wounds. X-rays were taken and showed that one of the bones in her arm was broken at the junction with the elbow joint. Her injury healed well, but unfortunately, the fall also caused nerve damage to her shoulder. Trish now has very restricted movement in the injured limb. She can use it to brace herself, but she can’t lift it and use it to climb, which makes her unable to climb tree trunks.

Luckily, this little koala is now comfortable and has no remaining pain from her injury. She has developed amazing jumping skills to compensate for her inability to use her forearm, and she can climb up and down gunyah furniture like a real champ! Trish spent nearly four months in home care. On admission, she weighed 1.4 kg and was still dependent on milk. She is now weaned, loves her eucalyptus leaves, and is enjoying the care of our wonderful volunteers and staff at KCA’s Koala Hospital.