Almost all aussies on extreme adventures in Australia or extreme Australia want to see Australia’s iconic marsupial, the koala. Every year though countless animals are killed or seriously injured by cars on our roads and there’s simple things everyone can do to reduce the toll.

Slow down on the roads, especially at night, dusk and dawn and when driving through wildlife crossing areas. Do not attempt to handle an injured animal unless you have experience handling wildlife. If you are not confident to handle the animal or it is a dangerous animal such as a bat (which can carry the lyssavirus), snake or kangaroo, keep the animal within sight and contact a carer.

If you decide to stop and check an animal, ensure your own safety first by pulling clear of the road, turning on your hazard lights and checking for traffic before leaving your car. If you are not able to pull safely off the road, accurately record the location and call a carer for assistance. Remember that live young may still be in the pouch or orphaned nearby.

If rescuing the animal poses no threat to your own safety, then the animal should be quickly and quietly scooped up in a towel or other material and placed in a secure box or container with sufficient ventilation. Again, call a carer or a veterinary surgery. Did you know that you can take injured wildlife to many vets without being charged a fee?

Did you know that a joey can survive in its dead mother’s pouch for up to ten days? You should never forcibly remove a joey from the teat as this can cause irreversible damage to its mouth. Instead, wrap both mother and joey in something warm and seek expert assistance immediately.

For all sick, injured and/or orphaned wildlife remember to keep the animal in a quiet, dark and warm place, do not give the animal any food or water and get expert assistance immediately.