Friends of the Koala Inc.

18/06/2026

This appeal is about so much more than bricks and mortar. Completing our hospital expansion will help deliver critical clinical infrastructure, treatment spaces and equipment so koalas can access the care they need. For koalas in complex cases, that can make all the difference. To donate, please visit our hospital expansion page: https://friendsofthekoala.org/koala-hospital-expansion/

18/06/2026

Meet little Brightheart. 🐨

At just six months old and weighing 324 grams, Brightheart arrived in care in May after her mum Shadowheart was tragically killed in a car strike. Left an orphan, she is now in the very capable hands of carer Liz, receiving around the clock feeding and monitoring.

We are so encouraged by her progress. Brightheart is drinking her milk well and has already grown to 385 grams. She has a long road ahead, but she is in the best possible hands. We will keep you posted! 🤞

Koalas like Brightheart are why this expansion matters. With better facilities, our veterinary team will be able to do even more for koalas in complex and life threatening situations. Please donate here: https://friendsofthekoala.org/koala-hospital-expansion/

18/06/2026

Good news alert! What wonderful news to share from right here in our own backyard.

Koalas have returned to the Minyumai Indigenous Protected Area south of Evans Head, right here in the Northern Rivers. After the devastating 2019-20 bushfires burned through 90% of the land, many feared they were lost forever.

Thermal drone surveys have now located nine koalas on Bundjalung Country. And remarkably, they are chlamydia-free.

It is a story of Country healing, of women rangers who never gave up, and of koalas proving once again that they are resilient when we give them the chance.

This is exactly why this work matters. 💚

Indigenous rangers are celebrating the return of koalas to the Minyumai Indigenous Protected Area south of Evans Head, New South Wales. In a media release WWF Australia says, ‘It’s a reversal of the grave concerns they held for their resident koalas when 90% of Minyumai IPA burned at the start o...

17/06/2026

14 days to go until EoFY. We are now in the final fortnight to help complete the fit-out of our Northern Rivers Koala Hospital expansion. We have made strong progress already — but we’re not there yet. If you have been thinking about giving, now is the time to help us finish strong for koalas before 30 June. Please donate here: https://friendsofthekoala.org/koala-hospital-expansion/

17/06/2026

Rudolf is officially free! 🐨💚 Just in time for breeding season and with every chance of playing his part in the next generation of Northern Rivers koalas. At seven years old, he has plenty of good years ahead of him living his best life!

A huge thank you to every single member of our incredible team who fought for Rudolf every step of the way. This one is extra special, they all are but this one even more so. Go get 'em Rudolf! 🐾💚

16/06/2026

Some of you may remember little Peppermint, who visited us briefly with her mum Chamomile back in early 2025. Sadly she is back with us, this time on her own, admitted in late April with severe cystitis, conjunctivitis and underlying kidney disease. 🐨

Despite arriving in very poor condition, we are pleased to share that Peppermint has now completed her course of antibiotics and will be retested next week. She still has a way to go but this is an encouraging step forward for this fragile little girl.

We are all rooting for you Peppermint! 🐨💚 Please show her your love.

15/06/2026

Our rescue and rehabilitation service is completely free to the community. But it costs an average of $5,000 to rehabilitate and release a single koala. 🐨

No koala is ever turned away. As the only specialist koala hospital in the Northern Rivers region, we admit more koalas than any other wildlife facility in NSW, and our current release rate for koalas admitted into care is 76%. Every treatment is funded by the generosity of people like you.

The hospital expansion we are fundraising for will allow us to help more koalas, more effectively, for decades to come.

30 June is fast approaching. Every donation is fully tax deductible.
👉 friendsofthekoala.org/koala-hospital-expansion

14/06/2026

This is the story of Wendy, and it is one of our favourites. 🐨

In 2005, a ten-month-old joey was rescued from the grounds of Southern Cross University after being hit by a car. She was placed in home care, hand-raised with round-the-clock dedication, and released into a pristine patch of Northern Rivers bushland. She was named Wendy.

Nineteen years later, a call came in about a small, elderly koala found on the ground at Georgica. It was Wendy. At twenty years old, well beyond the average life expectancy for a koala, completely chlamydia-free, and with a history of raising joeys of her own who will now have joeys of their own.

Wendy's story is proof that the time, the love and the cost of raising a joey is worth every bit of it. Her legacy lives on.

This EOFY, your donation helps us give the next Wendy a fighting chance. Every gift before 30 June is fully tax deductible.

👉 Read Wendy's full story: friendsofthekoala.org/the-wild-story-of-wendy-the-koala/

Wendy came into care at Friends of the Koala in 2005. She was recently rescued at the ripe old age of 20 - a miraculous age for a koala!

13/06/2026

Seven year old Cam was spotted in a tree recently showing obvious signs of conjunctivitis, and our rescue team safely brought him in that night for assessment at the Northern Rivers Koala Hospital.

On examination, Cam was found to have severe conjunctivitis in both eyes, with his vision currently impaired due to the severity of the infection. He is also experiencing nasal discharge and upper respiratory congestion, which has prompted our veterinary team to send off blood samples to check for cryptococcus, as this combination of symptoms can be associated with the disease.

In the meantime Cam has begun antibiotics and eye medications, and is receiving daily nebulisation to help ease his congestion. We are keeping a very close eye on him while we await his results and will have more news to share soon. Hang in there Cam! 🤞

If you would like to support our Northern Rivers Koala Hospital expansion, koalas like Cam will benefit directly from better treatment spaces and equipment. Every donation before 30 June is tax deductible and brings us one step closer to completing the fit-out. Donate here: https://friendsofthekoala.org/koala-hospital-expansion/

12/06/2026

It's that time of year again, where young male koalas start dispersing — whether they like it or not! 🐨

At around two years old they leave the only home range they have ever known to find their own. Some travel up to 16.6km to get there. Please slow down and call us if you spot one on the ground appearing unwell📞 02 6622 1233

Read how you can help keep them safe this breeding season. 💚
https://friendsofthekoala.org/koalas-and-cars/