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White koala returned to bush | The Daily Telegraph
HE is one of the rarest animals in the Australian bush - a pure white koala.
Nicknamed Mick, he was found desperately ill by police officers in remote bushland three weeks ago.
Exactly where is a state secret - as is his new home after three weeks of treatment at Port Macquarie's Koala Hospital.
Because of his rarity, security surrounding Mick rivalled the recent APEC talkfest, his handlers say.
Mick was kept isolated from other koalas at the hospital and security cameras provided round-the-clock protection as staff feared he could become the target of thieves.
"In the 34-year history of the Koala Hospital, he was our second (white) one and we've treated thousands. You get the odd albino, but a straight white koala is very rare,'' supervisor Cheyne Flanagan said.
"We were just shocked and frothing at the mouth (when he arrived here). We were absolutely in awe, because he was just beautiful.''
Unlike albino koalas which have pink eyes and noses, Mick has a black nose and yellow eyes. His lack of colour or markings is due to a recessive gene.
When found he was suffering from complete blindness caused by chlamydia - an affliction which also causes infertility and urinary tract infection in koalas.
Ms Flanagan said Mick, whose eyes were like "red cabbages'', underwent an operation to remove diseased flesh.
Afterwards, an antibiotic cream was applied twice a day for two weeks as he recovered.
"He was really nice, and just a true gentleman. He adapted to the leaf in the area very quickly, as well,'' Ms Flanagan said. His presence at the hospital was a closely guarded secret. Few staff were told where he came from.
Ms Flanagan said the secrecy was necessary because of protection and conservation issues.
Mick is believed to be one of only a handful of white koalas in Australia.
It is understood he came from a remote area interstate, about 13 hours away from Port Macquarie.
He was returned there in a hush-hush operation on Friday.
"It was a privilege to have him here and, although it was sad when he left, it was much better to send him back where he came from,'' Ms Flanagan said.
HE is one of the rarest animals in the Australian bush - a pure white koala.
Nicknamed Mick, he was found desperately ill by police officers in remote bushland three weeks ago.
Exactly where is a state secret - as is his new home after three weeks of treatment at Port Macquarie's Koala Hospital.
Because of his rarity, security surrounding Mick rivalled the recent APEC talkfest, his handlers say.
Mick was kept isolated from other koalas at the hospital and security cameras provided round-the-clock protection as staff feared he could become the target of thieves.
"In the 34-year history of the Koala Hospital, he was our second (white) one and we've treated thousands. You get the odd albino, but a straight white koala is very rare,'' supervisor Cheyne Flanagan said.
"We were just shocked and frothing at the mouth (when he arrived here). We were absolutely in awe, because he was just beautiful.''
Unlike albino koalas which have pink eyes and noses, Mick has a black nose and yellow eyes. His lack of colour or markings is due to a recessive gene.
When found he was suffering from complete blindness caused by chlamydia - an affliction which also causes infertility and urinary tract infection in koalas.
Ms Flanagan said Mick, whose eyes were like "red cabbages'', underwent an operation to remove diseased flesh.
Afterwards, an antibiotic cream was applied twice a day for two weeks as he recovered.
"He was really nice, and just a true gentleman. He adapted to the leaf in the area very quickly, as well,'' Ms Flanagan said. His presence at the hospital was a closely guarded secret. Few staff were told where he came from.
Ms Flanagan said the secrecy was necessary because of protection and conservation issues.
Mick is believed to be one of only a handful of white koalas in Australia.
It is understood he came from a remote area interstate, about 13 hours away from Port Macquarie.
He was returned there in a hush-hush operation on Friday.
"It was a privilege to have him here and, although it was sad when he left, it was much better to send him back where he came from,'' Ms Flanagan said.
Same with the deers, lions, tigers, and not sure what other animals that are rare for all white. I hope he is allrighty in the wild and no body hurt him.
