Shelter Spotlight March 2025
Koalas of Raymond Island Inc.
Name of Operator: Shelley Robinson
Years of operation: 5 yers as Shelter, 16 years as Carer
Suburb/area covered: Raymond Island
Species you care for: We rescue, care and rehabilitate koalas, but rescue and access all wildlife and birds and transport to appropriate carers.
Contact: Shelley Robinson 0438 588642
How does Koalas of Raymond Island support wildlife and their habitat?
Koalas of Raymond Island Inc (KoRI) rescue, care and rehabilitate sick, injured and orphaned koalas and rescue all wildlife and birds. We are a not for profit, volunteer run shelter that fundraises for all our costs. Our vets charge for all services including euthanasia, so our medical costs are high each month. We had 118 koalas in care in 2023, 107 in 2024 and we have had 17 more come into care already for 2025.
Shelley began the shelter with Carole after the 2019/20 bushfires when they evacuated 10 koalas that were in Shelley’s care, Carole registered as a carer and together they have built and run the shelter, with the help of a small, dedicated volunteer team.
Raymond Island has a large koala population, sadly too many for the islands size, so sickness, injuries from fighting and abandoned joeys make up a large portion of koalas that come into care. I work with our RI Landcare group to plant more feed trees and habitat and we have planted over 50,000 feed trees and under storey in the past 6 years. Sadly it is still not enough, our trees are decimated by the koalas overbrowsing and trees are still being cut down. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
What advice would you give the public?
Every leaf, every branch, every tree can mean the life or death of a koala.
On Raymond Island the residents are very supportive of the shelter and help with Koala counts, tree planting and all appreciate the wildlife on the Island.
