AJ Fends for Himself

AJ is a little koala who was rescued and put into the hospital for treatment of illness. He was there for over 90 days. As is the requirement in this part of Australia, a koala coming from the hospital must be released within a small distance from where they were rescued. In this case, little AJ was released into a small strip of sparse habitat, squeezed between a suburban neighborhood’s backyards and a rail line.

Because he’d been in care for so long, little AJ wasn’t as strong in his upper body as he once had been, but we knew that with time, he would gain strength. We watched him climb an ironbark eucalyptus; slowly and gingerly, and make his way along a lateral branch. As he inched further out on the branch, in search of fresh leaf to eat, a large neighbor took notice.

A currawong had apparently decided it didn’t want AJ so close, and quickly began diving and swooping over AJ; over and over, calling out angrily.

Little AJ withstood the attack for a time, eyes closed against the assault, and when the bird took a rest for a moment, AJ saw his chance and moved quickly back to the safety of the canopy.

We hope little AJ fends better now and is able to live his best life in a more suitable tree.