Shocking footage has surfaced showing a koala seemingly mourning the death of his female companion. The heartbreaking scene unfolded after a concerned citizen contacted South Australia’s Koala Rescue Inc., reporting two distressed koalas at the foot of a tree.
Hartley, the designated rescuer, rushed to the location in Coromandel Valley, south of Adelaide. Upon arrival, he discovered one of the koalas deceased.
Footage Captures Koala’s Grief
The footage, shared by Koala Rescue Inc. on Facebook, depicts an adult male koala huddled over and clinging to the lifeless body of a female koala.
“We received a call from a very worried member of the public,” the caption explained. “They reported finding a koala on the ground at the base of a tree. But there was another koala involved. Sadly, upon arrival, the rescuer discovered a deceased adult female and a second adult male.”
The organization expressed the deep sorrow rescuers experience when encountering deceased koalas. However, witnessing the male koala holding onto the female was particularly devastating.
Rare Glimpse into Koala Emotions
Koala Rescue Inc. emphasized that such behavior is uncommon among koalas they rescue. They believe this incident offers a unique perspective into the emotional depth of these Australian marsupials.
“While it’s always upsetting to deal with a deceased koala, witnessing the male koala holding the female was incredibly heartbreaking,” the caption reads. “This behavior is rarely seen by our rescuers, but it confirms the compassionate and caring nature of koalas.”
The rescuer, Hartley, took both koalas into his care. After confirming the male’s well-being, he released him back into a suitable nearby habitat.
Outpouring of Emotion on Social Media
The video has struck a chord with social media users, leaving many in tears. Comments flooded the platform, expressing sorrow for the grieving koala.
“This is the saddest video ever. I can’t hold back the tears, my heart aches for him,” one user wrote.
Another user commented, “Oh my god, even though it’s natural, that sound of his little whimpers is awful. It’s one of the worst things I’ve ever heard.”
A third user chimed in, saying, “This is absolutely heartbreaking. His cries are gut-wrenching. This just proves that animals feel emotions just like us.”
Koala Population Faces Challenges
Koalas are a vulnerable species facing threats like habitat loss, dog attacks, wildfires, and road accidents. The Australian Koala Foundation estimates the koala population to be around 63,665 at most, with a possible low of 38,648 remaining in the wild (as of 2023).
Research conducted by the World Wide Fund for Nature-Australia revealed a devastating decline of 71% in koala populations across six locations on the NSW north coast following the bushfires of 2019-2020.
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