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The 99th Koala: How seven weeks on Kangaroo Island changed my life

Kailas Wild saving a koala on Kangaroo Island after the Black Summer bushfires (Daniel Berehulak)

Australia’s Black Summer bushfires were absolutely devastating. A combination of unprecedented heat and dryness meant that fires took hold with an intensity not seen before and, without sufficient rain, they felt unstoppable. Between June 2019 and February 2020 over 12 million hectares were destroyed. Every state and territory was affected – almost every person in the country was touched in some way.
 
Maybe you were one of those Australians living in the bush under threat of fire. Maybe your town or city was blanketed by the thick deadly smoke, which even drifted across the Pacific Ocean to New Zealand, turning skies there hazy yellow. If you were lucky enough to have escaped both, then chances are you were anxious about someone who hadn’t been. As a country, our hearts went out to those whose safety was threatened, who lost their homes, and most of all those who lost loved ones. At least 34 people died.
 
We all shared the profound sense of grief at the loss of over a billion of our unique wild animals, along with their habitats. The number was, and still is, beyond comprehension.
 
For months we all felt helpless, myself included.
 
The 99th Koala is the story of what I did in response to that feeling – to try and help wildlife, and
also myself.

Kailas with the first orphaned joey he rescued, Joey Kai

After receiving a desperate text from a wildlife carer during the fires, I stepped away from my small arborist business in Sydney and drove to Kangaroo Island, where I spent seven weeks helping to rescue koalas that had been affected by fire.

 

The experience of working in a devastated landscape and seeing injured koalas every day was extremely confronting. But equally, the opportunity to be of some help and to work with others who cared so much for wildlife was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. 

 

I was gifted with the experience of rescuing Joey Kai – a burnt, orphaned koala joey. At first I didn’t think she would survive. But, with the right care, she went on to become a symbol of resilience and survival after the bushfires. I became incredibly attached to her.

 

Koalas could go extinct within our lifetime. For me, since Kangaroo Island, they have come to represent our failures and what could be our success in caring for our natural environment. My goal is that in reading about my experience, more people will care deeply about the impacts of climate change and feel inspired to engage fully in what is the most significant issue facing Australians and the world. 

 

I hope you read my story and find that it proves the power all of us have to make a difference.

The 99th Koala

Rescue and resilience on Kangaroo Island

By Kailas Wild

After bushfires devastated Kangaroo Island's koala population, Kailas Wild went to help. This is the inspiring and sometimes confronting story of what happened next.

An arborist by trade and conservationist at heart, when Kai heard that some of the injured koalas could only be reached by a tree climber, he drove 1500 kilometres to volunteer.

Seven weeks later, he had participated in the rescue of over 100 koalas, become an international social media sensation and formed a special bond with a baby koala – Joey Kai.

In words and pictures, The 99th Koala shares Kai's experience and introduces us to some of the koalas of Kangaroo Island. Sometimes tragic, sometimes hopeful, above all Kai’s story commemorates our unique wildlife, and demonstrates the power of one person trying to make a difference.

‘At a time when many people have felt helpless to act against the immensity of the fires or the threat of climate change, Kai's daily descriptions and videos of saving helpless animals have been a welcome dose of personal courage and deep humanity.’ ABC

'In words and photos that are impossible to look away from, Kai introduces some of the koalas on Kangaroo Island, painting a powerful picture of Australia's unique wildlife ... a gripping reminder of a summer that feels like it's in our country's distant memory.' Mamamia

'Harrowing, touching and uplifting.' The Courier Mail

'The 99th Koala is a plea for wildlife, it's a tribute to the volunteers who strive to save animals and rehabilitate them. It's an emotional rollercoaster that shows the devastation and damage ... but it's a tale of love and dedication.' Good Reading

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