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You can now check out Facebook for all the latest Beremboke Wildlife Shelter News about Koalas and other critters in care including all the latest on Polly [a dedicated blind mum] and Apollo. 

Momma K seen again in the rain on 8 May 2011

More than 5 years after the bushfires in 2006,  it was very exciting to recogniser Mumma K on a very rainy day in late May this year.  Despite the poor [quality] photo the spot above the nose and the eartag were unmistakably hers.   She was looking wet and bedraggled but quite happy part way up a spindly tree in the pouring rain in her old home range.   Another look around the area a couple of days later did not find her and we do hope that we will see her again soon.

She would be getting quite old now (12+ years) so we hope she continues to manage over the winter which can sometimes be quite difficult for the older Koalas. It is so rewarding to see Koalas doing well after they have been in care and released and in her case even more so as she was in care for such a long time.

Momma K reappears high up in a tree 2 years later on 22 July 2009

Momma K found again two years after release.  Momma K [or Mumma K for some] has been seen and photographed looking healthy and well TWO YEARS after being released. As you may have read in the "The Girls" - burnt Koalas story, Momma K was in care for a very long time while we were waited in hope for her claws to grow back after the January 2006 bushfires. She needed everything going for her to be able to survive well in the bush after such trauma. She had extensive burns while protecting her baby during the fires and needed intensive care and a lot of willpower and patience.

She was monitored post release for as long as possible - ie as long as she could be located. How exciting to see her a healthy wild koala after such a long time in care and back in the wild.



Close up of healthy Momma K on 22 July 2009 

• A Quoll Quandary!!! - the story of two Eastern Quolls. Wildlife Foster Carer Raylene found two dead quolls beside the road near Little River, identified them and took them to the Melbourne Museum. Hopefully there may be others living wild in the area!

• Check out our new link and subscribe to the newsletter of the Wildlife-Friendly Fencing Project where you can get some advice.

• Wildlife Foster Carer Christine has created a Childrens digital storybook tale about Donna Koala while she was in care at Beremboke - and has put it online at You Tube.
  

• Channel 7 News crew visited Beremboke in Januay 2008 to film the Koalas in care following the fires near Elaine. We have uploaded this to You Tube.
  

• Article in the Herald Sun on 25 January 2007 - page 1 and 2

• Anakie bushfires January 2006 - our experiences!
  Focus Group (pdf - new page)
  Interview
  

Website -   We would welcome any comments or suggestions that you may have.  Please email caz.

Article in the Herald Sun on 25 January 2007 - page 1 and 2

Koalas close together specially for the photo - (back L-R) Bella Bonita,
Mary and Kelly (front) Levi and Angus

They would sooner be up a gum tree, but the next best thing is a comfy armchair.

Eight cuddly koalas are lapping up the attention as they recover from bushfire injuries. Their badly burnt paws mean they can't climb trees to get their favourite snack, so the animals are bandaged up and relaxing in washing baskets or on soft chairs. The lucky survivors of fierce fires around Warrnambool are being lovingly nursed at the Beremboke Wildlife Shelter near Anakie.

The five females and three males are among just 70 koalas rescued so far from Framlingham State Forest.

Known as the koala capital of Victoria, the area boasted a population of about 5000. Melbourne vet Elaine Ong, who has been helping treat injured animals in the area, fears at least half the population has died in fires that have burned 1500ha.

Many of the animals have had to be put down but some have been luckier. Little Lena miraculously survived but was orphaned last week when her mother died from burns suffered protecting her baby.

Taken into the care of Beremboke shelter managers Marilyn Blankley and Gordon Lyall, the young joey has since been adopted by another koala, badly injured in the Anakie fires almost exactly a year ago. Mumma K has been cuddling the young orphan close to her chest, gently nuzzling its ears and comforting it. top of page

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