Koala found clinging to car’s grille after 88km journey

A koala survived being hit by a car near Maryborough in Queensland, Australia, early on Friday morning only to be later discovered clinging to the car's grille at a service station approximately 88 kilometres (50 miles) down the road at Gympie. The koala, now named Timberwolf, was spotted by the Gympie taxi driver and his occupants when they stopped to refuel.



They then assisted in keeping the rather dishevelled and startled marsupial from wandering onto the highway. Local veterinarian Geoff Collyer was called to the scene shortly after 2.30am. "It was very, very scared and very wide-eyed," Dr Collyer said. "It was making horrible noises at everybody who was trying to stop him from getting hit again. I took a big sheet to pull over him.

"You put it over them from behind so they can't get to you and you hold them by the shoulders and arms. You wrap them up like a tight little baby and they de-stress because it's nice and dark and snug." Later collected and taken to the Australian Wildlife Hospital at Australia Zoo, Dr Collyer says Timberwolf looked to be in good condition. "The crew from Australia Zoo came and confirmed they thought he was a juvenile," he said.



"Surprisingly he was looking really good later that morning. He didn't appear to have any broken bones and he was trying to find little things to eat - he was really quite bright." Dr Collyer says it's an amazing story of survival and one he will never forget. "There are plenty of urban myths about things jumping onto cars as they go past, and until you see it yourself you don't' really think it could ever happen," he said. "It's all part of the job - the good stories make it all worth it."