After a severe rainstorm, a small koala was found stranded high in a eucalyptus tree, clinging to a cracked branch above a steep wooded hillside. The animal was soaked, frightened, and unable to climb back to the safety of the main trunk.

Rescuers reached the tree in wet and windy conditions, secured themselves with ropes and a climbing harness, and worked slowly to avoid startling the animal. The rescuer, wearing an orange tree rescue jacket and protective gloves, braced against the trunk and waited until the koala grew calmer before making contact.

“He was holding on with everything he had,” the rescuer said. “The branch was cracked, the ground was a long way below, and he was too frightened to move. So we did not rush him. We let him get used to us, one slow step at a time.”

With one hand behind the koala’s upper back and the other supporting its lower body, the rescuer gently guided its paws away from the bark and lifted it clear of the broken branch. The koala gripped the rescuer’s sleeve and was held close to the chest before being lowered into a soft fleece lined rescue pouch, with its head kept upright and clear.

The rescuer then secured the pouch and descended carefully to the ground. Once there, the koala was dried, checked for injuries, and given fresh leaves and rest. Wildlife carers said he was cold and tired but unhurt.

The following morning, he was released into a healthy gum tree, where he climbed away into the canopy.

Wildlife carers say the best thing people can do after a storm is to keep a safe distance, watch from the ground, and call a local wildlife rescue team if an animal looks stranded or hurt. A frightened animal needs calm hands, not a crowd.