Australia fires: Water warning after Arnie the koala 'drowns to death'

Arnie the koala escaped the bushfires but later died
Animalia Wildlife Shelter
Ellena Cruse16 January 2020

Animal experts in Australia have issued a warning after a rescued koala "drowned to death" after drinking water from a bottle.

Several heart-warming posts have emerged on social media showing rescuers coming to the aid of thirsty marsupials by giving them bottled water.

But an animal rescue centre has spoken out against the practice after one of the rescued animals, Arnie, died after being given water in the incorrect way.

Experts say that, when koalas take in too much water by holding up their head rather than being hunched over a bowl, the water can get into their lungs and cause aspiration pneumonia.

Animalia Wildlife Shelter said Arnie was initially saved after losing his mother in a bushfire in Victoria’s East Gippsland.

Lots of rescuers are trying to help, but giving Koala's bottled water can be deadly
Oakbank Balhannah CFS via AP

But rescuers gave him water from a bottle rather than a bowl of water, which turned out to be fatal for the animal.

“He was found by some very caring people who did what any human would do when they find a distressed animal, and offered him a drink from their bottle of water,” the group wrote on Facebook.

Wildfires have continued to devastate areas of Australia
AP

“They were just trying to help. They didn’t know that it is dangerous for Koala’s to drink this way. They didn’t know that Koala’s usually get most of their water via the gum leaves that they eat and they don’t often drink water, but when they do, they are face down and lapping small amounts with their tongue.

“They didn’t know that when a Koala holds it head up and takes in too much water, it can easily get into their lungs and cause Aspiration Pneumonia, which is usually fatal. This is exactly what happened to little Arnie.”

The shelter said the incident was “heartbreaking” for everyone involved and prompted them to issue a warning to raise awareness.

It also advised to never force a koala to drink, but to tip water from a bottle into a bowl on the ground if giving water.

It added: “If it is safe to do so then catch it in a blanket and transport to the nearest shelter, otherwise take note of its location and let someone know the details.

“Please note that Koalas can cause nasty injuries so if the Koala is resisting do not try and pick it up. If you are nowhere near help then the best way to hydrate koalas is to place a bowl of water on the ground or pour water into your hat/helmet. Cup etc and hold near to Koala’s mouth so that it can lap at it facedown.”

The shelter said that the marsupials are “arboreal and nocturnal” and are usually very stressed if they “are at the point of allowing human interaction” so selfies must not be taken which could cause more upset.

Experts estimate around a billion animals have been killed since blazing infernos swept across Australia killing dozens of humans and destroying thousands of homes.

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