Children's 'poignant' memorial for roadkill koala
Despite showcasing the kind act, koala rescuers say the image also highlights the 'disturbing' reality for the animals.
A group of children have lovingly paid respect to a koala who was struck and killed by a car after finding it lying in a front yard as they walked to their friend's house. The rescuer — who happened to be the friend's mum — was left speechless by their thoughtful actions.
"They were walking to come and visit my son during the school holidays, as they do, and on the walk they found this koala who we suspect hadn't been there long," Phoebe Parker from Koala Rescue told Yahoo News Australia.
When the three boys, aged between 12 and 13, arrived at her home in southeast Adelaide, Phoebe said they were "distraught". As is custom when a deceased animal is reported, she headed out to perform a pouch check and also remove it for "dignity" purposes. She had no idea the boys had commemorated the koala by placing flowers and leaves on it — a small but "poignant" act.
"We found the koala, and I didn't know they had decorated it," she explained. "I was quite moved."
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Koalas being hit 'left, right and centre' by cars
The rescuer explained she has responded to countless reports of koalas being struck by cars recently, with the animals more active in the summer.
"They've been hit left, right and centre at the moment... they're on the move," she said.
It is believed a motorist hit the koala and kept driving, with Koala Rescue saying "reckless drivers" are often at fault in wildlife deaths as many don't stop to check if the animal is hurt and call assistance.
Since the voluntary organisation was established in August, 2020 it has recorded 440 koalas have been hit by cars in Adelaide and the surrounding suburbs, with rescuer Pamela Head saying it was "disturbing" how these incidents are "increasing in frequency" due to many of the animals being pushed into suburban areas.
Over 10 million animals are hit on Australian roads every year and the message of "stop and check" is echoed by rescuers across the country — with increased chances of survival if qualified individuals can get to the injured animal and offer assistance.
The International Fund Animal Welfare (IFAW) app can be used by motorists to pinpoint which wildlife groups operate in the area where distressed animals are sighted, or Wildlife Rescue Australia can be called from anywhere in the country on 1300 596 457.
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