FAQ

How should I handle and package the koala body?

Your health and safety are of the upmost important, so please only handle dead wildlife of any kind with disposable rubber gloves - or alternatively, use the plastic bag to handle the dead animal. Please put the dead koala into a plastic bag (if available a body bag, but a garbage bag will also do). If you're using a garbage bag, make sure that you double-bag the animal (i.e. put the bag with the koala into a second bag). Please label the bag with the following information: "Koala", Location, Date.

Close the bags with a cable tie, or a firmly pulled and knotted piece of string.

How do I store the body prior to and during transport?

Ideally, we want koalas as "fresh" as possible, i.e. dead <24 hours and not frozen. If possible, please keep the bagged koala at around 5 degrees Celsius prior to and during transport. If you have an esky that is sufficiently large and that will no longer be used to store human food or drinks, or an empty plastic rubbish bin, place it in that with plenty of bagged ice while awaiting transport. We are also able to organise transport and will discuss this with you over the phone. However, if you are close to Werribee and are able to drop the koala off yourself, this is greatly appreciated.

If prompt transport to Werribee and storage at 5 degrees Celsius is not possible, koalas can be frozen at approximately -20 degrees Celsius for later transport. However, freezing greatly limits our ability to interpret tissue changes in the dead animal, and is therefore not preferred. Please discuss this when talking to us.

What address do I use for postage?

If you have been asked to send the koala body in, using our pre-paid courier service, please address the body to:

Koala Passive Disease Surveillance Project

Melbourne Veterinary School

Gate 1, Pathology Building

250 Princes Highway

Werribee, Victoria 3030