Popular local koala in critical condition after suspected dog attack
A Queensland Koala adored by locals is fighting for its life after he was found with wounds suspected to be from a dog attack.
The koala named Teadoro, which translates to “I adore you” in Spanish, was spotted in Noosa National Park behaving strangely.
“He was on the ground for a while, which isn’t normal behaviour,” Queensland Koala Crusaders spokesperson Bernard Jean told Yahoo News Australia.
“He was trying to climb but didn’t have the strength in his arms,” he added.
The injured male koala was spotted around 6am on Thursday sitting on the pathway and taken to the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital where he remains under care but it’s believed the attack happened days earlier.
Teadoro had puncture wounds to his abdominal area and required life saving treatment.
“He is eating, which is a hopeful sign,” Mr Jean said.
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Mr Jean said he is a volunteer at the national park where he often warns locals not to walk their dogs through the koala territory.
“People often get angry at me for telling them off but dogs are not allowed in the national park,” he explained.
Mr Jean suspects it was a domesticated dog that attacked the beloved koala. “A wild dog would have done much more damage,” he said.
Teadoro is now awaiting surgery and his carers are hopeful that the local celebrity will recover and be able to return to the park soon where he entertains visitors by climbing down among them each sunrise and sunset.
“We need people to be aware that they can’t unleash their dog in koala territory,” Mr Jean told Yahoo News.
“No dogs in the National Park. Keep your dogs on a lead in other koala habitats and corridors. And if you see a koala acting strangely (like being on the ground longer than it takes to move to another tree) report it so it can be evaluated and cared for if necessary,” he posted on Facebook.
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