Rescue group says 12 koalas died recently
THE last known female koala in Noosa National Park has died, rescue volunteers say.
Sunshine Coast Koala Wildlife Rescue, led by brothers Ray and Murray Chambers, reported the death of the nine-year-old yesterday.
It followed a devastating couple of weeks for the volunteers, who have been unable to save about 12 koalas from the Sunshine Coast region and surrounds.
The park's last known female died this week.
The brothers were called out to the park to rescue the sick koala.
She was taken to the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital where a large tumour was discovered in her pouch.
She was euthanised.
"There are possibly only two male koalas left in Noosa National Park," Ray Chambers said.
"It's terrible. Our success rate in the last few weeks has been zilch."
Mr Chambers said koalas had been hit hard from illness and disease, as well as dehydration due to the dry conditions before this week's wet weather.
"The drought was really hurting them."
