A baby koala shot about 15 times with a pellet gun has made a promising recovery overnight.
The joey, named Frodo, was found next to its dead mother, who was also shot several times, in an attack near Kenilworth in the Sunshine Coast hinterland a week ago.
About 15 pellets were found scattered in Frodo, including one lodged in her skull. Seven of them have since been removed in two operations but more remain in her intestines.
Frodo's condition was listed as critical with vets fearing she could die from lead poisoning from the remaining pellets.
But in a remarkable turnaround, they now say her prospects are looking good.
Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital veterinarian Dr Amber Gillett says Frodo is moving around and eating.
"Frodo has made good improvement overnight and has started eating leaf on her own which is a positive sign for her future," Dr Gillett said on Thursday.
"Frodo is now much brighter and alert and is moving around well in the intensive care unit."
She said while her condition is stable, she still has a long road to full recovery.
"The wounds to the top of Frodo's head where one pellet was removed has been closed, and I am happy with how the wounds are healing," Dr Gillett said.
He said they will not do any more surgery to remove the remaining pellets for now.
Queensland police say they have some leads but are appealing for anyone with information to call CrimeStoppers.
Detective Sergeant Mike Ferling told reporters on Thursday that the case was far from going cold, but police are seeking public assistance.
"Someone out there in the community knows something about this offence," Det Sgt Ferling said.
"Someone was there or their associate or friend. We are really appealing for them to ring CrimeStoppers. It's all confidential."
He said the attack happened on a public road.
"The gravel road where the offence occurred is a public gravel road that links state forestry with freehold country," he said.
"It's used a lot by graziers and other persons."
The penalty for deliberately shooting a koala is a $225,000 fine or two years in prison.
The case is similar to another attack on a baby koala and his mother at Morayfield, north of Brisbane, in January.
That mother survived but the baby, named Doug, died despite efforts by vets to save him.
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