This juvenile female koala, weighing only 4.4kg, came to us in August 2009.  She had been found on the ground in Seaview Avenue, Port Macquarie, with a wound to her right wrist and forearm.  Little Seaview Farida, as she was named, had suffered a dog attack.

Two of the claws on her right hand were so badly damaged that they required removal.  The blood supply to that area had been compromised from the attack, and we were fearful that the only resort would be to remove her hand altogether.
But Farida was a fighter – she responded well to antibiotic treatment and to the regular dressing and cleaning of her injured hand.  In a couple of weeks, new skin grew and she gained flexibility enough to climb a little.

She then spent six months in smaller enclosures until she was released into a large yard which includes a significant number of tall trees for her to climb.  Despite our initial fears for her dexterity, Farida’s climbing skills have gone from strength to strength and our veterinarian advisor suggested that Farida may be releasable after all.

As Farida was quite young, disease-free and climbing well, it was felt she should be given the opportunity to fulfill her role as a female koala by breeding in the wild.  Her progress was closely monitored and she was reassessed and released early in March 2010 to a safe location in a national park.  
Initially she was fitted with a tracking collar to follow her movements and to ensure she was capable - once she had established herself in a colony, this was removed and she is now free to enjoy life.