When he was first found in October 2021, Basil was a joey alone on the side of Port Stephens Drive, a road sadly known for being extremely dangerous for koalas and other wildlife.
He appeared to have a leg injury and was too young to be without his mum, and he was brought straight into the hospital by a caring member of the public.
Thanks to the member of the public who brought Basil in safely. If you find a sick or injured koala or other native animal, please avoid handling if possible and contact our specialist rescue team.
Knowing there was a good chance his mother could still be nearby, one of the rescuers returned to the scene to search the surrounding bushland. High in a tree, they found his mum, Rosemary, and so the young joey was named Basil in her honour.
Despite suffering from a broken arm, Rosemary had somehow managed to climb high into the ‘safety’ of a tree after the accident. She was also rescued and brought into care.
Basil and his mum were reunited at the hospital – a touching moment for everyone involved.
Rosemary began treatment for her injured arm, while Basil underwent further assessment. It was discovered his leg injury was actually an older injury, possibly caused by nerve damage that may have been present since birth.
Over the following months, both mum and joey received the very best care.
Rosemary healed nicely and, after two months in care, she was strong enough to return to her home range. By then, Basil had also grown bigger, stronger, and more independent, ready to continue his own journey.
Since then, Basil has gone from strength to strength. After ongoing treatment and rehabilitation for his leg, he has now graduated to a large tree in his sanctuary yard, where he proudly shows off his climbing skills and cheeky gymnastics.
Today, Basil has grown into a much-loved favourite among staff, volunteers, and visitors alike, a reminder of just how resilient koalas can be when given a second chance.
Since this rescue, the area around Port Stephens Drive has been improved with a koala deterrent fence installed by Port Stephens Council to help keep wildlife safely on the bush side of the road.
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.
When Ainslie arrived at Port Stephens Koala 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.
