In the Media 2005

Steve Goes Home
News Source: Caboolture Shire Herald, Tuesday September 20 2005

A BABY koala, which overcame horrific injuries after being hit by a car in Burpengary, has been returned to the wild.

Dubbed the ‘miracle baby’ by his carers, the koala, named Steve, was the first to be treated at Beerwah’s Australian Wildlife Hospital in April last year. The hospital has since cared for 600 koalas.

So extensive were Steve’s injuries, his treatment sparked the interest of many veterinarians, who came to witness the medical breakthrough.

The injured two-year-old koala arrived at hospital in the arms of his rescuer, bus driver Steve Janson, after being hit by a car on the Bruce Highway near Burpengary.

The koala’s injuries included pelvic fractures, soft tissue trauma to the pelvic canal, pulmonary haemorrhage, facial trauma, a lacerated tongue, jaw fractures and a ruptured liver.

The hospital’s head wildlife veterinarian Jon Hanger had previously treated similar injuries, but never all at once on the same koala.

However, hospital manager Gail Gipp said staff did not stop to consider the cost or time it would take to treat Steve.

“If we thought we had a chance of saving him, enabling him to return to the wild, then we did,” Ms Gipp said.

After 17 months of treatment, Steve was released by tearful staff after exceeding expectations by returning to perfect health.

The hospital is opposite the Australia Zoo. Phone 1300 369 652.