By Oliver Lees
Two of Tylden’s furriest residents were saved last week, thanks to the effort of two strangers and a local animal rescue team.
Koalas Tilly and Timmy, a mother and son duo, were struck by a car travelling late at night.
Driving home from an evening out, good samaritans Kara and Damien first found Tilly bleeding badly from her nose.
They immediately called Wildlife Victoria who directed the incident to local service Five Freedoms Animal Rescue.
As the couple waited for emergency support, they heard another cry in the distance coming from the injured joey Timmy further down the road.
Five Freedoms Animal Rescue founder Manfred Zabinskas arrived on the scene and escorted the distressed animals to Niddrie Vet Clinic, where it was confirmed both Tilly and Timmy had escaped any major internal damage.
After Dr Ed Smith took the honour of naming the marsupials after their home town of Tylden, Mr Zabinskas escorted the koalas back to his shelter. He said it was a relief to find the animals in good condition.
“I was anxious about what I was about to find as koalas rarely survive high speed vehicle collisions,” Mr Zabinskas said.
“In many cases they need to be euthanised, so this is an extraordinary outcome.”
After 30 years working in animal care, last year Mr Zabinskas was recognised for his service with and was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia.
Mr Zabinskas started Five Freedoms Animal Rescue 13 years ago out of his home in Trentham.
Reflecting on his profession Mr Zabinskas described the work as all-consuming, with “very extreme” highs and lows.
“Everyday of my life I face animal trauma, the calls are relentless,” he said.
“There’s 12 injured kangaroos in our living room as we speak.
“It’s a lot more stressful and overwhelming than I anticipated, but the rewards are massive.”
Although primarily catering for the immediate area, Mr Zabinskas has responded to emergency calls across the state and always makes an effort to return the animal back into the area they were found.
He urged all people to stop and phone Wildlife Victoria in case of a roadside incident.
“This koala case was a good example, I still struggle to see how people can hit an animal and drive off,” he said.
“If you hit an animal you have to stop, it’s actually a legal obligation.
“People like me are there to help.”
Wildlife Victoria can be contacted on 8400 7300.
