If you’ve ever felt like your to-do list was getting a bit out of hand, spare a thought for the veterinary team at the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital. They are currently in the thick of what the experts call “Trauma Season”, and according to the latest data, this year is officially one for the record books, and not necessarily the fun kind.
Running from September through to February, Trauma Season is that hectic window when Australia’s native wildlife decides it’s time to find food, mates, and new real estate. Unfortunately, this increased movement coincides with our busy roads, leading to a heartbreaking spike in admissions.
A Season Like No Other
Dr Ludo Valenza, the Hospital Manager and a veteran veterinarian at the facility, has noted that the 2025-2026 season has been particularly confronting. With admissions rising annually, this season alone has seen almost 2,000 more patients than the previous year.
“Admissions are rising every year,” Dr Ludo explains. “The warmer weather poses a serious threat to roaming animals.” When you’re dealing with numbers that high, every success story feels like a minor miracle.
Meet Flower: The Ten-Hour Commuter
Flower the koala isn’t your average patient. Admitted in December 2025, her journey to the hospital was a literal marathon. After being hit by a car in Central Queensland, she was driven for over ten hours to reach the state-of-the-art rehabilitation facility at Beerwah.
The initial prognosis was grim. Flower arrived with severe facial trauma, including a fractured jaw and a ruptured eye. In a heartwarming twist of fate, it was actually Dr Ludo’s own mother who rescued and transported the injured koala, making Flower’s recovery a bit of a family affair.
The Road to Recovery
While the team was braced for surgery, Flower proved she was made of sterner stuff. The position of her jaw fracture allowed it to heal naturally, spared from the scalpel but supported by plenty of fluids, pain relief, and the watchful eyes of the ICU team.
The bad news? Flower did lose vision in her left eye. The good news? Her right eye is perfect, and she has adapted to her “new normal” with the kind of grace most of us can’t muster before our first morning coffee.
“Flower is currently spending time in a large rehabilitation area where she can practice climbing tall eucalyptus trees and adjust to her one-eyed ailment in a safe environment,” says Dr Ludo. The goal? A return to the wild in Central Queensland once she’s passed her final “climbing exams” in about a month’s time.
Why Every Koala Counts
It is easy to get lost in the cute photos, but the reality is sobering. Koalas are officially classified as endangered in Queensland and New South Wales. In a world of shrinking habitats and busy motorways, saving one individual like Flower is a vital win for the entire species.
Terri Irwin, Founder of Wildlife Warriors, reflects on the hospital’s journey from its 2004 beginnings: “The Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital has been a beacon of hope for native wildlife, offering special patients like Flower a second chance in the wild.”
How You Can Help
The hospital operates 24/7, but they can’t do it alone. As Trauma Season winds down, the risks remain high, especially during dawn and dusk when animals are most active near bushland.
If you’re behind the wheel, slow down and keep an eye out for our furry mates. And if you want to support the team keeping the “Flower’s” of the world climbing, head over to wildlifewarriors.org.au to donate.
