When little Ainslie arrived at the hospital in October 2025, she was still riding on the back of her mum, Jane. The pair had been rescued from a backyard at Brandy Hill after dogs were spotted nearby, placing them at risk.
Jane’s rescuer noticed she had a dirty bottom, which can indicate chlamydia in koalas. After examination and testing by our veterinary team, she was confirmed positive. She began treatment while staff closely monitored both mum and joey.
Sadly, despite everyone’s efforts, further testing using our CT scanner revealed Jane was suffering from pneumonia and significant gut issues. In December 2025, the difficult decision was made to humanely euthanise her.
For Ainslie, the journey was only just beginning. Suddenly without her mum, she needed around-the-clock care from our dedicated rehabilitation team. She was bottle-fed by our wonderful rehabilitators, helping her grow stronger each day.
To give her the very best chance at a healthy future, pap was also sourced from another healthy female koala. This is an important step that helps young joeys develop the gut bacteria needed to digest their specialised eucalyptus diet.
Since then, Ainslie has continued to thrive. She is steadily gaining weight, growing in confidence, and reaching all the important milestones needed for life in the wild.
One of her biggest achievements so far has been graduating to one of our larger rehabilitation yards, complete with a full-sized tree for climbing, exploring, and building the strength and independence she’ll need for release.
Ainslie’s story is a reminder of the impact wildlife rescue and rehabilitation can have. With expert care, dedication, and a second chance, she’s developing the strength and independence she’ll need for her future in the wild.
When Reggie arrived at Port Stephens Koala Hospital in December 2025, he was a young sub-adult male who had likely only recently left his mother to find a territory of his own. He was very unwell, with discharge from both his eyes and nose. A CT scan revealed pneumonia, and testing confirmed he was also positive for chlamydia.
In October 2021, a young koala joey was rescued from the side of Port Stephens Drive, a road once known for being particularly dangerous for koalas and other wildlife. Alone and appearing to have a leg injury, Basil was far too young to be without his mum.
