This Koala Joey Never Leaves His Mother's Side, Even During Life-Saving Surgery
The bond between mother and child is one of the strongest bonds in existence. This holds true for most creatures in the animal kingdom, as well as for humans.
Regardless of the species, mothers will always be mothers, devoted and caring for their offspring. In the same vein, most animals’ young are heavily dependent on their mothers for survival as they learn and grow.
A shining example of such a bond emerged in Australia after a mother koala was hit by a car on the Warrego Highway near Coominya, while her 6-month-old joey was in her pouch. Luckily for the pair, a group of volunteers was able to quickly rescue the injured koalas. They named the mother Lizzy and her sweet baby boy, Phantom.
Lizzy and Phantom were transferred to the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital, which was founded by the famous Steve 'Crocodile Hunter' Irwin and his wife, Terri. Miraculously, Phantom managed to survive the accident unscathed.
Unfortunately, Lizzy was in critical condition, suffering from facial injuries and a punctured lung. She needed surgery to save her life.
The veterinarian overseeing their care recognized that separating Lizzy and Phantom would not only make them anxious but would also be traumatic for both mother and son. They decided that keeping them together during the surgery would be beneficial for Lizzy’s recovery.
And so, they proceeded with surgery to repair Lizzy’s punctured lung, while Phantom, her tiny 1-pound joey, clung to her the entire time.
Koalas are an iconic animal native to Australia.
They’re marsupials, mammals that have a pouch for the development of their young, not “bears,” as they’re commonly called.
Koalas live in the eucalyptus forests of southeastern and eastern Australia. They rely on these eucalyptus trees for both food and shelter.
Phantom has quite the concern for his mom.
The word koala comes from the Aboriginal language Dharug word “gula” meaning “no water.” It was initially believed that these animals could survive without needing to drink water, as they were rarely seen coming down from their eucalyptus trees.
It turns out that the leaves of the eucalyptus tree have a high water content, so the koala does not need to drink often. Aside from the high water content, eucalyptus is also toxic!
The koala’s digestive system works hard to break down the eucalyptus leaves. After processing the toxins, they are left with limited nutrients, resulting in very little energy.
The actual sweetest sleepy face
Because they get so little energy from their diet, koalas must limit their energy use. They have been known to sleep or rest for up to 18 to 22 hours a day.
Phantom being the very best emotional support joey.
Koalas are mostly active at night and spend the majority of their waking hours eating. (Same though)
No bed like Mom
The 6-month-old baby remained firmly attached to his mother’s side for support even after surgery, including all the follow-up treatments needed to ensure a full recovery.
Phantom in his special pouch
"Phantom is with Lizzy during her procedures and check-ups to ensure neither mum nor bub gets stressed out," the hospital said. "Similarly, Phantom is in a 'pouch' during weighing to ensure he feels safe and protected while away from mum."
Their care led to a full recovery
"It's so rewarding to see patients like Lizzy getting better," vet nurse Jamie-Lynn Hevers added.
Lizzy gets to do the cuddling now.
Now that she's fully healed, Lizzy and Phantom were safely released back into nature.
Check out the videos below to see how endearing their bond is.
Lizzy and Phantom managed to make a full recovery thanks to the dedicated team at the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital. According to Dr. John McDougall, a physician and health expert, "The care and rehabilitation of wildlife are crucial for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem health." The Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital has treated over 10,000 koalas since its inception in 2004, showcasing its commitment to wildlife conservation. For more insights on health and wellness, visit Dr. John McDougall's website.
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