THE koala that made world headlines when it turned up on a Soldiers Point couch has died soon after his release.
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Tough Bugger had been rescued on July 5 and given a quick once over before he was released back into the wild, in perfect health.
He was struck and killed by a car on Wednesday, only three weeks on. It’s further evidence of a worrying trend the society hopes to reverse.
“This is the price we pay for our habitat destruction,” Ron Land from the Hunter Koala Preservation Society said.
“It’s systemic of a broader issue here in Port Stephens.”
Tough Bugger was struck on Soldiers Point Road about 6pm Wednesday near Salamander Shores, quite a distance from the koala habitat Sunset Park, where he was released.
Two men bundled him up and were on their way to the society’s care and rescue coordination Simone Aurino when he had a seizure and died.
It was a cruel blow for Ms Aurino and her son Mason since they rescued him from the house.
“We like the homeowners are really distressed by this,” she said.
“We had such a wonderful response to the story and now we’ve had to share this heartbreaking news.”
Tough Bugger came to the world’s attention when he stumbled into the Soldiers Bay home of Michele Goodman and Vicki Haines. It made headlines in the UK, US, Germany and Korea.
The homeowners have fielded a stream of interview requests – even this week from Estonia and India. In his wake the couple hope to further the plight of koalas through their outdoor fitness-adventure business, Tuff Buggers.
“All of this development has stuffed up the environment around here,” Ms Goodman said.
“Having been through this we want to help in whatever way we can to support the koala population.”