THEY say bad luck comes in threes and the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital can vouch for that.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A few weeks ago, in the space of a couple of days, they had to say goodbye to three of their furry friends including the well-known and loved, Barry.
Media co-ordinator Mick Feeney said it was a heartbreaking decision, but one that was done in the best interests of the 13-year-old veteran.
"Many tears were shed when he went to the great eucalyptus tree in the sky," he said.
"He was an iconic koala, but we said if we could not alleviate his pain we wouldn't keep him alive so we had to euthanase him. It was a really dark week for the hospital."
Earlier in the week two other koalas were killed; one was hit by a car while another was attacked by a dog.
But the one which was arguably felt the most was the loss of Barry.
Originally given a month to live after he was rescued in 2008 due to severe scoliosis and kyphosis, or curvature of the spine, Barry continued to defy the odds.
"His story is a remarkable one; when he first came in to us he didn't have long to live. Every winter we kept on saying it would be his last one, but he kept fighting til the end," Mr Feeney said.
"When the person brought him in six and a half years ago he was that small they mistook him for a rat."
While those at the hospital try not to get too attached to the koalas Mr Feeney said it was difficult not to with Barry's personality which saw him regularly go missing at the start of the day.
"He was a mischievous fella," he said.
"Even though he may have suffered disabilities he still managed to escape from yard to yard."
Barry unknowingly became a fundraiser for the hospital with a soft toy based on his appearance being sold in the kiosk.
"That has been an enormous help to the hospital in raising much needed funds that ensure the ongoing care of every koala that comes to us," Mr Feeney said.
"He had a remarkable presence in the hospital and will be greatly missed."