Found a Sick or Injured Koala?
Stay calm, keep a safe distance and follow these steps:
Victoria is home to an estimated 100,000 to 500,000 koalas. Despite not being officially listed as an endangered species, koalas in Victoria face a growing number of threats to their survival, including:
- Urban development — expanding cities and towns reducing natural habitat
- Habitat loss — land clearing and deforestation
- Vehicle collisions — koalas being hit by cars near roads and residential areas
- Climate change — rising temperatures causing heat stroke and bushfires
- Disease — including chlamydia and other illnesses affecting koala populations
The Vets for Compassion team is frequently called out for koala rescues, including rescuing joeys. We’re one of the only wildlife rescue organisations in Victoria with highly-skilled tree climbers, specially trained to safely reach and rescue koalas in tall trees.
Our qualified wildlife vets are also uniquely equipped to diagnose and treat diseases affecting koala populations, including bacterial chlamydia — helping give rescued koalas the best chance of recovery and release back into the wild.
How You Can Help Protect Victoria’s Koalas
- Slow down when driving in wildlife areas, especially at dawn and dusk
- Report injured koalas as soon as possible, so they can receive urgent veterinary care
- Report deceased pouched animals — there may be a surviving joey in the pouch that can be saved
- Give rescuers space — if you see flashing lights or wildlife rescuers on the road, slow down and pass carefully
- Keep dogs on lead in wildlife areas to protect native animals from attack
- Record koala sightings using the KoaLocator app.
Koalas helped in 2025
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