The dis-used mine shaft was deemed too dangerous for our teams to enter, making the rescue rather difficult. The dog was much more responsive with rescue teams and was relatively easily roped to safety. He was rushed to the local vet by his owner amid fears he had suffered some bone fractures after the fall. It then took the crews a further hour to get the koala to co-operate as he desperately tried to climb out of the safety nets before reaching the top of the mine shaft.
In a jaw dropping moment, Lee Pirini a member of our wildlife rescue team managed to lean over the side using a towel and swiftly pull him to the surface in what was a bit of a struggle. Our crews initially thought the koala may have been blind, making the rescue all the more difficult in trying to get him to cooperate.
He is currently in RSPCA care at the Wacol Wildlife Hospital and has no broken bones. Although he appears to have eye issues with conjunctivitis and cystitis. His poor vision may very well have led to his fall down the hole.
It still remains a puzzle as to how exactly the pair became stuck. The dog’s owner explains, the day before this incident her two dogs had gone missing. When only one of them returned that night she became worried. The next day on a search for her missing pooch she heard cries from the bottom of the mine shaft. It’s believed that the two dogs chased the koala into the shaft, with one of them falling in and the other avoiding the hole and returning home for help.
If you see a sick or injured animal please contact our 24/7 helpline on 1300 ANIMAL (1300 264 625).
