The plight of the koala: Remembering Ember

As a young koala who managed to survive the catastrophic Black Summer bushfires, Ember made global headlines in 2019-2020 and again in the following years when she was seen thriving in the wild. 

Today, we bring the sad news that Ember has passed away. We mourn her loss while also celebrating her incredible story. Ember contributed to the future of the species. And with koalas endangered—every individual koala matters for their survival. 

Rescuing Ember 

In December 2019, Ember was rescued by Ros and Bill, volunteers at IFAW partner Friends of the Koala. She was found walking on the burnt ground in northern New South Wales (NSW) after devastating fires swept through the area. The 18-month-old joey was severely dehydrated and her fur was black, coated in soot, and badly singed. Her lungs were congested from smoke inhalation, and she had sustained significant burns to her rump and all four paws. 

Everyone feared for her survival but, despite a worrying prognosis, Ember’s health improved. Eventually, with care and attention from Currumbin Wildlife Hospital, the IFAW-supported veterinary team, and dedicated volunteers at Friends of the Koala, she made a remarkable recovery. Ember was released back into the wild near Ros and Bill’s property in April 2020. 

Ember becomes a mum 

To everyone’s delight, some 18 months later in 2021, Ember was spotted in the same area she was released with a joey of her own. Some two years after that, she was spotted with a second joey in tow. Ember became a beacon of hope for her species, which had been added to the endangered list across Australia’s east coast. 

So many koalas were lost in the 2019-20 fires. The whole team that worked on rescuing and rehabilitating Ember thought she would be another casualty. Not only did she beat the odds and survive, but she was thriving in the wild and contributing to the future of the species.  

Rescuing Ember again 

In October last year, she was spotted by her Ros and Bill low in a tree and without her joey. Ros and Bill tragically found her second joey, Ash, dead on the ground not far from where Ember had been sitting. There were no obvious signs of any sickness, and the cause of death is still unknown.  

Ember was brought into Friends of the Koala where the IFAW-supported vet team completed a full examination. They found Ember’s coat had turned a little brown and dry and her body condition wasn’t as good as it should have been. This is common when koalas are rearing young. Concerningly, Ember showed signs of koala retrovirus, which is often fatal. But all her tests came back normal—no pathogens were detected. 

She stayed at the Friends of the Koala Care Centre, where she was moving well, eating, and scatting normally, and was released back to the wild for ongoing monitoring.  

In March this year, Ros and Bill noticed Ember looked thin and showed signs of chlamydia. She was rescued and taken to the vet team at Friends of the Koala. Her body condition had significantly worsened, and she was showing clear evidence of chlamydial disease.  

In a short period of time, Ember’s health suffered a rapid decline. Her condition was so poor that the kindest decision to make for her welfare was one of the toughest—to euthanize her.  

An Australian native grevillea wildfire tree has been planted on Ros and Bill’s property in memory of Ember.  

The plight of the koala 

The loss of Ember will be felt by many. Especially those who were involved from the beginning – from her rescue to her days in the wild.   

It is also a loss for the region’s koala population. It highlights the plight koalas face.  

From habitat loss caused by land clearing and climate change-induced extreme weather to dog attacks and car strikes and the prevalence of diseases such as chlamydia—koalas are hanging on by a thread. 

Ember’s story highlights the challenges koalas face and the urgent action needed to save the species from extinction. Australia holds the shameful title of having the world’s highest mammal extinction rate. We cannot let the koala, one of our most iconic and beloved animals, join that list.  

All levels of government in Australia need to step up and take firm action to stop the decline of the koala. This includes ending the clearing of native habitat, placing the environment ahead of development in planning approvals, investing in wildlife-friendly infrastructure, and recognizing the significant contribution of the wildlife rescue and rehabilitation sector by funding a network of wildlife hospitals.   

It’s important that you have your say as well. The time is now—do the right thing for Ember, to honor her life, and for all the koalas that need our help. 

The NSW government is reviewing its strategy for koala conservation. Have your say on the future of koalas in Australia.