Friends of the Koala have issued a plea to motorists to slow down and watch out after a spate of koala deaths on Lismore’s roads coinciding with breeding season.

The organisation’s president, Ros Irwin, said following the start of breeding season many more koalas were on the ground, either juvenile males searching for new habitat or males searching for females.

Ms Irwin said across the region eight koalas had been killed in recent weeks, with five in Lismore, mostly in Goonellabah along the Bruxner highway.

She said a particularly distressing koala strike on Saturday night outside the Goonellabah Tavern, involving a koala called Vincent who had been rehabilitated previously, left a rescuer and vet nurse distressed.

“This is the time of year that we at Friends of the Koala dread, as we know that during the breeding season between July and February the rescues will ramp up,” Ms Irwin said.

“Whilst disease (and habitat removal) is the primary direct cause of koala deaths, car hits are next, and they’re generally fatal.

“The koala hit on Saturday night was Vincent, a koala we had rehabilitated and released in Goonellabah just over two years ago.

“His injuries were shocking, with his head virtually smashed and one eye hanging out, struggling to breathe and clearly terrified.

“Fortunately one of our Keen Street Veterinary Clinic vets came in and euthanased Vincent as he could not be rehabilitated.”

Vet nurse and rescue coordinator Marley Christian, who was upset by the extent of Vincent’s injuries, said FoK was grateful for the members of the public who saw it happen and called the Rescue Hotline 6622 1233.

“We can only assume the driver of the vehicle was unaware of hitting the koala, but it was clear the car was travelling very fast to cause the injuries to Vincent,” Ms Christian said.

“Whilst it isn’t always possible to avoid a koala crossing a road, at least if the car is travelling at a lower speed the animal might be able to be rehabilitated.

“[Another koala] CW lost an eye and we thought he would be euthanased but his injuries were not as severe so CW lives and will go into Species Management at Port Macquarie later this week."

Ms Christian reiterated Ms Irwin’s call to slow down and watch out for koalas and called on drivers to make sure they have the Koala Rescue Hotline (6622 1233) in their phones.