PORT Macquarie's State Emergency Service (SES) crews put their animal rescue skills to the test at the weekend to coax an injured koala from a tree for treatment.
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Unit commander Michael Ward said four SES members were tasked to a koala rescue off the Oxley Highway near Lake Road at 11pm on Saturday after police requested assistance.
The koala had been hit by a car and retreated up a tree in shock with its injuries.
Mr Ward said it was the unit's first koala rescue and their domestic animal training was put to good use.
"When we attend a job with people you can usually ask them if they are OK and tell them what we plan to do. You can't do that with animals," Mr Ward said.
"Their first reaction is to see us as a threat and to retreat."
Ecologist and SES volunteer Leonie Stevenson retrieved the koala who then received treatment and care at Port Macquarie's Koala Hospital.
Sherwood Henry is no stranger to Koala Hospital volunteers having already been up to mischief and hurting himself in previous incidents.
He is in good hands and recovering well.
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