When animals get hurt, especially young ones, it’s always heartbreaking. But seeing them nurtured back to health can be incredibly uplifting.
That’s exactly what happened with a tiny koala joey who, after a fall from a tree, received a small cast for her fractured arm. Photos of the adorable koala in her cast were shared by Werribee Open Range Zoo in Australia, quickly capturing hearts around the world.
Watch the video at the end.
The joey’s story began in a Blue-gum plantation area, where she fell from a tree and injured her arm. Tragically, her mother, who was critically injured in the incident, did not survive.
The orphaned joey, weighing just about one pound, was rescued and brought to Werribee Zoo for urgent care, though her chances of survival were uncertain.
“It was really touch and go when she arrived,” said Jess Rice, a vet nurse at Werribee Zoo. “She was just at the stage where she’d be poking her head out of her mother’s pouch. At that size, joeys typically have a low survival rate in captivity.”
Despite the odds, the zoo’s veterinary team refused to give up. An X-ray revealed the joey’s fractured arm, and vets carefully applied a small cast to support the healing process.
Around-the-clock care soon helped the young koala regain her strength, and she gradually gained weight, improving her outlook for the future.
After stabilizing, the joey was transferred to a wildlife specialist who will continue her care until she’s ready for the wild, a process that could take over a year.
“It will be more than a year before she’s old enough to return to the wild, so she needs a carer with the resources to support her for that long,” Rice explained.
This joey’s story is a hopeful one, yet it also underscores the challenges koalas face today. The species is now considered “vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List due to threats like climate change, deforestation, and disease.
Koala habitats are increasingly endangered, putting the future of these beloved animals at serious risk.
Watch the video below:
