Peta the Koala found in floodwater

A young koala plucked from a flooded Brisbane park is rushed into the RSPCA Wildlife Hospital amongst an influx of waterlogged patients.

A caring member of the public saw the sodden marsupial in a park on Peter Street in Strathpine and acted quickly. With the help of a local koala carer, the affectionately named Peta was transported to the RSPCA for urgent care.

You can watch RSPCA Vets treat Peta the young koala on Wildlife ER.

RSPCA Vet Tim assessed the koala and found her to be only recently independent of her mother and lacking the skills and experience to survive such a major weather event.

When treating koalas, Wildlife Vets give them a body condition score so they can be triaged and their recovery progress tracked. Luckily for Peta, Vet Tim scored her a 7/10 and prescribed her only rest and care with dedicated nurses providing round the clock observation.

Wildlife Vet Nurse Jade is very experienced with koalas and with so many other sick animals overloading the hospital, she is confident Peta will soon be ready to go back to the wild.

“She’s one of the lucky ones that have come into us.

“She was in the wrong place at the wrong time and got caught in the water but she’s doing really well and she’s going to go for release."

After a final check-up the next day by Vet Tim, Peta is cleared to return to the wild!

Dedicated koala carers from Moreton Bay Koala Rescue picked up Peta to return her back to her home in the park, which is now much drier and sunnier.

A suitable tree was selected and after a little encouragement, she climbed the tree - back where she belongs.

You can watch Wildlife ER on SBS Australia from February 8 at 7:30pm and SBS On Demand - enjoy watching our team go above and beyond with animal rescues, wildlife receiving treatment at our hospital, the rehabilitation journey, and wildlife being released back into the wild.

Photos of release courtesy of Wildbear Entertainment.