Koala Hospital

Koala Hospital, Port Macquarie

The Koala Hospital

The Koala Hospital adjacent to Roto House is the world’s only hospital dedicated solely to the care and preservation of wild koalas. Founded by Jean and Max Starr in 1973, the hospital is entirely self-funded from donations, bequests, adoptions and their shop. It is managed by the charitable organisation, the Koala Conservation Australia, only has seven paid staff, 200 volunteers and hosts one overseas volunteer for one month every month - a position that is in very high demand. Facilities include a treatment clinic, eight internal intensive care units, six outdoor intensive care units and 30 rehabilitation yards. There are a small number of non releasable koala patients who are permanent residents (eight in total) that are available for the public to see. The Koala Hospital is a research institution that collaborates and works with a number of universities and other institutions. Up until about five years ago, this unique Hospital would treat up to 200-250 sick and/or injured koalas each year, and successfully rehabilitate and return about 60- 70% of their admissions to the wild. Koalas are admitted from all over NSW. Primary reasons for admission to care are being hit by cars, dog attacks and the bacterial infection Chlamydia which causes urogenital disease (commonly called wet bottom) and ocular (conjunctivitis). Other reasons include bushfires and issues that occur due to loss of habitat. In particular, the devastating bushfires across the region in 2019/2020 had a huge impact on the local koala population and the hospital was inundated with injured koalas. How can we help the koala population? We need to ensure their genetic diversity is conserved by protecting their habitat, reducing vehicle strikes, dog attacks and disease - this is fundamental to their population health. How are the admitted Koalas named? Usually by the person who found them and the location in which they were found. Of the 900 species of eucalypt trees that grow in Australia, approximately only 60 of them across Australia are ‘food trees’ so koalas’ habitat is determined by the availability of these trees. Australian Music legend John Williamson is also passionate about saving koalas. John has been a patron of Koala Conservation Australia ever since he met one of their founders, the late Jean Starr, in the early eighties.

During a visit to the Koala Hospital, he witnessed an emergency rescue call come in. The entire experience was so impressive for John that it inspired him to write the song “Good Bye Blinky Bill”, which became enormously popular throughout Australia. He very generously donated the proceeds from his song to Koala Conservation Australia. John raised a considerable amount of money that enabled the Koala Hospital to build a new “John Williamson Wing” which houses their intensive care unit. UP UNTIL ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO, THIS UNIQUE The Koala Hospital has plans for a multi-million dollar redevelopment after receiving an overwhelming number of public donations as well as grant HOSPITAL WOULD funding from the NSW Government.

TREAT UP TO The Koala Hospital is open daily from 200-250 SICK 8.30am to 4pm. Wandering guides are AND/OR INJURED on site to answer questions and tell

KOALAS EACH visitors about koalas. YEAR... Visitors to the Koala Hospital can view the clinic through a large window and sometimes see a koala being treated by the inhouse vet. You can also observe the resident koalas in their enclosures, however the koalas in recovery are behind screens. Did you know that 100,000 tourists visit the Koala Hospital in Port Macquarie each year? Admission is free and donations are welcome - you can even adopt a koala! Located at Lord Street and Roto Place, Port Macquarie, 6584 1522,

koalahospital.org.au