Treating patients @Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital

Squeak the koala joey reunited with her mother after being separated during a dog attack.

Squeak the koala joey was brought to the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital after a terrifying encounter with a dog left her in desperate need of care. While Squeak’s mother, Toya, managed to escape up a tree, little Squeak was left behind – cold, covered in saliva, and alone. A local wildlife rescue group was quickly on the scene and brought Squeak to the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital for triage and assessment.

Upon admission, Squeak was placed in a temperature-controlled enclosure for warmth, as she was cold and showing signs of stress. Thankfully, her thorough assessment revealed no puncture wounds, but it did uncover mild abdominal bleeding and dehydration. The team quickly began treating Squeak’s injuries and monitoring her closely in the intensive care unit. Meanwhile, efforts were underway to locate her mother, in the hopes of reuniting them.

The very next morning, Toya, Squeak’s mother, was found nearby and brought to the hospital for assessment. While she showed no visible wounds from her encounter with the dog, a further examination revealed she had contracted chlamydiosis cystitis—a painful infection common in koalas caused by the bacterial disease chlamydia. This condition can result in inflammation of the urinary tract, changes to renal and bladder function, and, if left untreated, can severely impact a koala’s health.

Despite the challenges, Toya and Squeak were successfully reunited in the ICU. The team kept them together while ensuring both received the best possible care. Due to the contagious nature of chlamydia, Squeak had also developed the infection, requiring additional treatment and monitoring.

Now, a few months into their recovery journey, Squeak and Toya are showing promising signs of improvement. Under the dedicated care of the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital team, they are steadily regaining their strength. As they continue their treatment, the goal remains clear: to return Squeak and Toya to their wild home, where they can thrive once more.

Australia's wildlife is uniquely its own and much-loved by the world, yet it’s disappearing at an alarming rate. Road traffic, domestic animal attacks, and land clearing have left many animals fighting for survival. The Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital is giving sick, injured and orphaned wildlife a second chance. Each year, over 10,000 animals are brought to the hospital for lifesaving treatment. As one of the world’s largest and busiest purpose-built wildlife hospitals, we play a vital role in saving Australia’s native species—one life at a time.

Neve, a patient from the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital who went from a caring mother with a leg injury to a symbol of resilience!

Neve the koala was admitted to the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital in September 2023 after suffering a suspected trauma injury to her leg. There were high concerns for Neve’s mobility, especially since she was a mother to a little joey, affectionately named Pippin, who could be seen clinging to Neve’s back as she tried to move through the eucalypt trees.

The dedicated veterinary staff quickly assessed Neve's injury. What seemed at first to be a recent mishap turned out to be an old trauma—a bite through the cartilage of her knee that had never properly healed, causing her immense and continuous pain. The severity and complexity of Neve's condition required specialised care.

An orthopaedic surgeon was brought in to perform the delicate surgery needed to mend the intricate structures of her injured knee.

While Neve was moved into the intensive care ward for recovery, her joey Pippin was kept close by, spending his days in the kindy yard—an area of the hospital designed to mimic their natural habitat. This environment helps young koalas like him learn essential skills such as climbing and socialising, which they would typically acquire in the wild.

Despite the best efforts of the orthopaedic veterinary team, Neve’s surgery did not achieve the desired outcome. Neve’s fight does not end here.

She was required to undergo a second surgery to remove the implants that had failed and an alternative attempt of repair saw her leg fixed with an external splint and cast to encourage the fibroids to fuse back together.

Recovery from such a profound injury is no small feat for any animal, and Neve is no exception. Her days at the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital are filled with the gentle progression of healing and the careful attention of her caregivers, who are committed to seeing her through to a full recovery. 

The story of Neve and Pippin is not just a narrative of survival and maternal love but also a poignant reminder of the critical work happening every day at the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital. The financial aspects of specialised surgeries, long-term rehabilitation, and the day-to-day operations of the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital are immense. Our facility relies on the support of generous people like you who have aided us in operating this facility for the last 20 years, treating over 130,000 patients since opening our doors.

With your support, we can ensure Neve and countless other wildlife, receive the care they need to thrive - ultimately preserving Australia's iconic wildlife for generations to come.