hot enough to make a koala fall out of a tree!
Well, it seems like it. When we decided to venture out about 5pm to check on the cattle, chickens, water the garden, etc, Ray spotted our little koala friend curled up on the ground under the teatree. Now, koalas are not ground-dwellers, they are most definitely tree-dwellers, venturing down to the ground only to move to another tree. So we were a little concerned about him. Checking on him every ten minutes, we found he moved out onto bare ground and laid flat-out, with his legs out behind him, panting. Not recognised koala behaviour. So I called the animal rescue lady again (she is getting to know us, and at least she doesn't get lost coming here now). I thought this little guy was going to die right before our eyes.
About ten minutes after I phoned Jenny (the animal rescue lady), the wind turned, and we got a welcome breeze, not cool, but better than the northerly furnace blast we'd had all day, and this seemed to perk the koala up almost immediately. He dragged himself across to where a branch of a gum tree looped down onto the ground, sat himself up on his butt on the ground, and started munching on leaves! (Koalas don't drink water, they take all their hydration from the leaves that they eat). So when Jenny arrived, he looked so much better. She was glad to have come, and talked to the koala expert on her mobile, who explained that it is mating season, and this little guy had probably overdone himself in the heat! yikes!
This is where he was sitting, outside our vegie garden (that's what that wire fence is for - to keep the rabbits off the vegies). And if you look closely at his chest, the discoloured patch is the gland that makes him smell good to lady koalas! The koala expert Jenny was talking to on her mobile explained that, and said that the combination of mating and the incredible heat had just knocked him, and that if he was bright eyed (he was) and feeding (he still is), he will be fine.
And I just had to show you the amazing claws on these animals - he was supporting himself by clinging to the wire fence. It is wonderful to watch them climbing up the straight trunk of a gum tree, these claws act like the pins that rock climbers use the way they dig into the bark of the tree trunk. And then they use these claws so nimbly to hold branches so they can graze on gum leaves. Aren't they amazing! Oh, and they would tear you to shreds if you got too close, and threatened them - I've been incredibly lucky to get this close for photos - it isn't generally recommended.
About ten minutes after I phoned Jenny (the animal rescue lady), the wind turned, and we got a welcome breeze, not cool, but better than the northerly furnace blast we'd had all day, and this seemed to perk the koala up almost immediately. He dragged himself across to where a branch of a gum tree looped down onto the ground, sat himself up on his butt on the ground, and started munching on leaves! (Koalas don't drink water, they take all their hydration from the leaves that they eat). So when Jenny arrived, he looked so much better. She was glad to have come, and talked to the koala expert on her mobile, who explained that it is mating season, and this little guy had probably overdone himself in the heat! yikes!
This is where he was sitting, outside our vegie garden (that's what that wire fence is for - to keep the rabbits off the vegies). And if you look closely at his chest, the discoloured patch is the gland that makes him smell good to lady koalas! The koala expert Jenny was talking to on her mobile explained that, and said that the combination of mating and the incredible heat had just knocked him, and that if he was bright eyed (he was) and feeding (he still is), he will be fine.
And I just had to show you the amazing claws on these animals - he was supporting himself by clinging to the wire fence. It is wonderful to watch them climbing up the straight trunk of a gum tree, these claws act like the pins that rock climbers use the way they dig into the bark of the tree trunk. And then they use these claws so nimbly to hold branches so they can graze on gum leaves. Aren't they amazing! Oh, and they would tear you to shreds if you got too close, and threatened them - I've been incredibly lucky to get this close for photos - it isn't generally recommended.
posted by DebF at 9:57 pm
5 Comments:
Wow! I live in the Pacific Northwest (Washington state) on about 5 acres of 2nd growth forested land. We have a lot of wildlife experiences out here, but it's great to see photos and read the details of such a different experience. Our critters out here are pretty drenched right now, the rain has been fairly constant this year. Thanks for the perfect reading to accompany my morning coffee.
-Heather
Hope your Koala friend gets feeling better soon! :) Hard to imagine hot weather when we are in cold and snow here in Utah! - It is fun to read about life down under.
hehe a little bit too much romancing for the poor wee fella huh? Awesome photos Deb!!! And I learned a few new things about Koalas too....lol!
I know where you can get a Koala crossing road sign ;)
Great photos Deb!
Oh wow Deb! Such a cute little guy and so cool that you got up so close. So sad to hear that he died. But at least you all did some thing nice for him.
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