Surgery again delayed for baby koala

Life-saving surgery for Doug the koala has again been postponed, with the joey still too sick to endure the operation.

Doug was found with slug gun shots to his ribs and abdomen at the base of a tree at a Morayfield property, north of Brisbane, on Tuesday morning.

His mother, Meryl, was also shot during the attack but is expected to make a full recovery after earlier surgery.

Doug's surgery to remove the two air rifle pellets had been planned for Friday afternoon, after earlier having been postponed from Wednesday because of his poor health.

But an Australian Wildlife Hospital spokeswoman said the koala had been deemed still too sick.

"We want his pneumonia to be under control first, before the operation," the spokeswoman told Australian Associated Press on Friday.

She said Doug's condition was improving day by day: he'd gained 20 grams overnight with the help of a gum leaf snack.

His condition is listed as critical but stable, and he has only been given only a 50-50 chance of survival. Surgery is now expected to go ahead early next week.

Source: People's Daily.
Link: http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90851/6876390.html.