KOALAS Jody and Myka captured hearts around the world when they were reunited after a road accident and traumatic separation near Port Macquarie.
The mother and joey were hit by a car at an undisclosed location at the end of June.
As Jody ran off into the trees, Myka was on the road.
Luckily, people travelling behind stopped and bundled her up before calling the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital.
She spent the night in home care as rescuers set out to find Mum.
By morning, Jody had been found and taken to the hospital at Guulabaa – Place of Koala.
Pictures of her reunion with Myka, which showed the joey immediately burrowing in for a cuddle, led to an “overwhelming” public response and an “outpouring of support and care”.
“Joey and Myka were given some time and space after their reunion to reconnect and allow the distress of the incident to subside,” the hospital shared on social media.
“The good news [is that they] appear to have not sustained any serious injury.”
Both were carefully assessed by Koala Conservation Australia (KCA) wildlife vet Astrid Van Aggelen, before spending several weeks in the rehabilitation yards being monitored for signs of internal injuries.
Both made a remarkable recovery, but returning them to their home range was simply too dangerous.
Over the space of two weeks, six koalas were hit by cars at the same location, and only three survived.
Now the pair have been accepted into the world-first Wild Koala Breeding Program, where they will play a vital role in the future of their species.
According to KCA, they will live together in a large, natural enclosure that allows them to display and continue natural behaviours while contributing to critical conservation research and breeding efforts.
“Jody and Myka’s story touched thousands of people, and we are thrilled to give them this chance at a safe and meaningful life,” KCA Breeding Manager Dr Kate Farquharson said.
“By becoming part of the Wild Koala Breeding Program, they will help us secure a future for koalas across Australia.”
As Myka is a similar age to the program’s current cohort of joeys, she will be able to join them for future release once she is independent and has passed her fitness assessment.
This will ensure she has the best chance of survival in the wild.
The Wild Koala Breeding Program is pioneering new approaches to conservation and aims to establish genetically diverse, healthy koala populations that can help safeguard the species against future threats.
To learn more or support the program, visit koalaconservationaustralia.org.au.
By Sue STEPHENSON
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