mac06
20-01-2010, 10:52 AM
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/doug-the-baby-koala-to-undergo-surgery-20100120-mjjg.html
Doug, the baby koala shot with a slug gun, will undergo surgery on Wednesday to remove two pellets from his tiny body.
He survived the night but his life still hangs in the balance after the sickening attack north of Brisbane.
X-ray images released by the Sunshine Coast wildlife hospital caring for him show two slugs lodged in his body - one under his ribs and another in his lower abdomen.
Doug's mum, Meryl, who was also shot in the attack, has already had one slug removed from her body. She's doing well under the care of experts at the Australian Wildlife Hospital at Beerwah.
The hospital's general manager Gail Gipp says the operation on Doug, who weighs just 900 grams, will be challenging as the slugs are close to his major organs.
They are believed to have been in the joey's body for 10 days, causing infection and lead poisoning.
"Today we'll go into surgery with him and ascertain the damage that's been done to the body's organs, the amount of infection, and hopefully we'll be able to remove them and repair the damage," Ms Gipp said.
"He had a blood transfusion yesterday and along with antibiotics and pain relief and fluid it picked him up overnight but he's got a long way to go."
But his mum's doing "really well".
"She had her surgery yesterday to remove her bullet and she's recovered wonderfully overnight. She's back to normal, she actually thinks she's ready for release," Ms Gipp said.
Doug has been named after one of his rescuers, and his mum Meryl has been given the name of the man's wife.
The two injured animals were found at the base of a tree on a Morayfield property north of Brisbane on Tuesday, sparking a hunt for the person responsible.
Authorities have vowed the offender will face the full force of the law if they're caught.
"A maximum penalty of $300,000 or two years imprisonment can apply," said Queensland Sustainability Minister Kate Jones.
Ms Jones said departmental officers were investigating the shooting and urged anyone with information to come forward.
"I'm absolutely disgusted by this cruelty and hope the young koala can recover," she said.
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/koalas-shot-north-of-brisbane-20100119-mi9s.html
RSPCA spokesman Michael Beatty said the attack was disturbing, with the joey a "50/50 chance" of survival.
"At first glance, because it was a slug gun that was used, it's probably kids but we really need to catch those who are responsible," he said.
"All too often we've seen in the past the links between animal cruelty and other forms of violence down the track, so if this was kids they need to be made to be accountable for their actions now to nip something like this in the bud."
Mr Beatty said people could call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or the RSPCA Cruelty Complaints Hotline on 1300 852 188 if they had any information on the attack
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/01/19/2795925.htm?section=australia
Pictures of the koala in the above link. What's the matter with people these days. The things they do to poor defenceless animals seems to be on the increase. Kangaroos with ears chopped off, crossbow attacks, punched and kicked. Now koalas. What next? With a bit of luck the authorities will catch these idiots and follow through on the threat of maximum penalty of $300,000 or two years imprisonment. Maybe then the other idiots out there will think twice about copying them.
Doug, the baby koala shot with a slug gun, will undergo surgery on Wednesday to remove two pellets from his tiny body.
He survived the night but his life still hangs in the balance after the sickening attack north of Brisbane.
X-ray images released by the Sunshine Coast wildlife hospital caring for him show two slugs lodged in his body - one under his ribs and another in his lower abdomen.
Doug's mum, Meryl, who was also shot in the attack, has already had one slug removed from her body. She's doing well under the care of experts at the Australian Wildlife Hospital at Beerwah.
The hospital's general manager Gail Gipp says the operation on Doug, who weighs just 900 grams, will be challenging as the slugs are close to his major organs.
They are believed to have been in the joey's body for 10 days, causing infection and lead poisoning.
"Today we'll go into surgery with him and ascertain the damage that's been done to the body's organs, the amount of infection, and hopefully we'll be able to remove them and repair the damage," Ms Gipp said.
"He had a blood transfusion yesterday and along with antibiotics and pain relief and fluid it picked him up overnight but he's got a long way to go."
But his mum's doing "really well".
"She had her surgery yesterday to remove her bullet and she's recovered wonderfully overnight. She's back to normal, she actually thinks she's ready for release," Ms Gipp said.
Doug has been named after one of his rescuers, and his mum Meryl has been given the name of the man's wife.
The two injured animals were found at the base of a tree on a Morayfield property north of Brisbane on Tuesday, sparking a hunt for the person responsible.
Authorities have vowed the offender will face the full force of the law if they're caught.
"A maximum penalty of $300,000 or two years imprisonment can apply," said Queensland Sustainability Minister Kate Jones.
Ms Jones said departmental officers were investigating the shooting and urged anyone with information to come forward.
"I'm absolutely disgusted by this cruelty and hope the young koala can recover," she said.
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/koalas-shot-north-of-brisbane-20100119-mi9s.html
RSPCA spokesman Michael Beatty said the attack was disturbing, with the joey a "50/50 chance" of survival.
"At first glance, because it was a slug gun that was used, it's probably kids but we really need to catch those who are responsible," he said.
"All too often we've seen in the past the links between animal cruelty and other forms of violence down the track, so if this was kids they need to be made to be accountable for their actions now to nip something like this in the bud."
Mr Beatty said people could call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or the RSPCA Cruelty Complaints Hotline on 1300 852 188 if they had any information on the attack
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/01/19/2795925.htm?section=australia
Pictures of the koala in the above link. What's the matter with people these days. The things they do to poor defenceless animals seems to be on the increase. Kangaroos with ears chopped off, crossbow attacks, punched and kicked. Now koalas. What next? With a bit of luck the authorities will catch these idiots and follow through on the threat of maximum penalty of $300,000 or two years imprisonment. Maybe then the other idiots out there will think twice about copying them.