A koala with an extremely rare genetic condition giving it two different colored eyes has been discovered in Queensland, Australia, after being
hit by a car north of Brisbane.
The marsupial dubbed 'Bowie' has heterochromia - giving it a bright blue right eye while the left one is brown.
It is a condition similar to the one that helped define the unique look of the koala's namesake, the late David Bowie.
The young female koala was taken to Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital on the Sunshine Coast last month after it was hit by what was thought to be a car near Brendale, north of Brisbane.
Treating veterinarian Dr Sharon Griffiths said Bowie's different colored eyes do not affect its vision.
"Apart from being extremely lucky in avoiding injury on the road, she's also incredibly unique as heterochromia isn't a common occurrence in koalas;
it's more often found in domestic mammal species such as dogs and
cats," Dr Griffiths said.
The hospital said the condition was the result of a recessive gene
inherited from parents that affects the pigmentation in the iris.
Bowie has also been treated for mild cystitis.
She will eventually be released back into the wild.
The young female koala was taken to Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital on the Sunshine Coast last month after it was hit by what was thought to be a car near Brendale, north of Brisbane.
Treating veterinarian Dr Sharon Griffiths said Bowie's different colored eyes do not affect its vision.
"Apart from being extremely lucky in avoiding injury on the road, she's also incredibly unique as heterochromia isn't a common occurrence in koalas;
it's more often found in domestic mammal species such as dogs and
cats," Dr Griffiths said.
The hospital said the condition was the result of a recessive gene
inherited from parents that affects the pigmentation in the iris.
Bowie has also been treated for mild cystitis.
She will eventually be released back into the wild.
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