Forestry Corporation was informed by one of our contractors yesterday afternoon that a koala had been found unwell in a timber plantation harvesting area near Kempsey.

General Manager Hardwood Forests Division Dean Anderson said, “when the koala was noticed it was sitting on the ground. Contractors on the site immediately stopped work and contacted the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital. The hospital’s volunteers took the animal to the koala hospital where we were informed it later died.  We do not yet know the specific cause of death.

“This is an unfortunate and unusual event and we will be investigating this incident.”

Media contact: Elizabeth Fowler 9407 4265/ 0408 779 903