Moggill Koala Rehabilitation Centre

An orphaned koala joey being prepared for release back into the wild.

An orphaned koala joey being prepared for release back into the wild.

Photo credit: Stephanie Shaw

The Moggill Koala Rehabilitation Centre (previously known as the Moggill Koala Hospital) was opened in 1991 by the Queensland Government in response to public concern about the increasing number of injured and diseased koalas found in South East Queensland.

The centre is run by the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (the department) for the rehabilitation of sick, injured and orphaned koalas. The centre operates 365 days of the year but is not open to the public.

The centre is part of a network of wildlife facilities which includes:

  • RSPCA Queensland Wildlife Hospital
  • Currumbin Wildlife Hospital
  • Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital.

Admissions

Koala under anaesthesia for veterinary examination.

Koala under anaesthesia for veterinary examination.

Koalas are commonly admitted for treatment and/or rehabilitation for the following reasons:

  • chlamydial-related diseases. Chlamydia are bacteria which cause chronic infection including conjunctivitis, cystitis, infertility and kidney failure
  • traumatic injuries caused by cars and dogs
  • orphaned joeys (baby koalas).

Statistics are collected from all koalas and are entered onto a specifically designed koala database which now contains over 50,000 records. This information is used by the department to produce maps and reports which guide koala management decisions.

Koalas are received at the centre from:

  • Wildlife hospitals following initial treatment
  • Volunteer koala rescuers
  • Other wildlife rescuers.

Koalas that are rehabilitated at the centre include

  • orphaned juvenile koalas – these are entrusted to a small group of experienced and highly dedicated koala carers for hand raising
  • diseased koalas
  • koalas recovering from trauma, including those that have been hit by a vehicle or attacked by dogs

Volunteer wildlife rescue groups rescue sick, injured and orphaned koalas seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

As well as the wildlife hospital network, some koalas are also treated by private veterinary surgeons.

All admissions are recorded and the details forwarded to Moggill Koala Rehabilitation Centre staff who enter critical data into the database. This data helps to identify koala habitat and monitor koala populations.

Once rehabilitated, treated koalas are returned to their natural habitat at, or close to, their point of rescue. Each koala is microchipped so that it can be identified in the future. Unlike other more common wildlife, rehabilitation of a single koala back into the wild can make a significant difference to the survival of the South East Queensland koala population.

Koala sightings

You can now help with koala conservation by reporting koala sightings using the QWildlife app.

Sightings of all sick, injured, orphaned and dead koalas in South East Queensland should be reported to 1300 ANIMAL (1300 264 625).

Volunteer

Help care and rehabilitate wild sick and injured koalas at the Moggill Koala Rehabilitation Centre. Learn more.