A leading wildlife organisation is finding it hard to survive, let alone scratch out a living, as demand for its services soars, writes Mike Smithson.

They’re the significant and iconic images of most tourism campaigns and even feature heavily in Australian-based movies such as the newly launched Kangaroo Island.

Who doesn’t love the sight of a cuddly koala to remind us that we’re living in the lucky country?

But behind the scenes many animal lovers are cringing at the perilous road ahead.

A leading organisation, which cares for our indigenous creatures, is finding it hard to survive, let alone scratch out a living as demand for its services soars.

Southern Koala and Echidna Rescue (SKER) is the volunteer-based epicentre of an escalating problem.

It’s SA’s only full-time and dedicated wildlife vet clinic and is based in the Onkaparinga Hills.

A similar and startling statistic applies to its demand for services and its equally sky-high running costs.

Over the past two years specialist care of animals is up by 350 per cent.

But to continue at its current pace past October the clinic needs $350,000, which has been sought from the state government.

That plea for cash was lodged in May, but........

© InDaily