Bear Grills

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Rescued from Mundoolun Road, Mundoolun in September 2025.

He is a survivor, a fighter, and has highlighted his plight to thousands on television and social media – and he is a cute koala from Logan.

Hit by a car and then travelling for 5 kilometres while trapped in the vehicle’s grill before the driver discovered him, this 4-year-old male koala was given the quirky name of ‘Bear Grills’. It is in recognition of the adversity he has overcome, and his adventurous tale being as harrowing as the experiences undertaken by the famous UK survivalist Bear Grylls.

This iconic Australian animal may be an endangered species in Queensland, but that didn’t help Bear the day he decided to cross Mundoolun Road around dusk, in Mundoolun a few months ago.

The car drove to the base of Tamborine Mountain and once the driver found Bear was trapped, they contacted Wildcare for assistance.

Chair of the Logan City Council Environment Committee, Councillor Miriam Stemp, says it broke her heart to hear that Bear had to go through such an ordeal.

‘But thanks to the efforts of Wildcare, the RSPCA and the Moggill Koala Rehabilitation Centre, hopefully he will go on to live a long and happy life,’ Cr Stemp says.

‘It’s great news that Bear is recovering well after his surgery to repair a fractured femur,’ she says.

Bear Grills recovering after receiving treatment for his injuries. Image courtesy of RSPCA Queensland.

‘With the launch of the Koala Breeding Season Awareness Campaign, Bear’s accident is a reminder for all motorists to slow down on our roads, especially at dusk and dawn, be extra vigilant and keep an eye out for koalas and other wildlife.

‘If you suspect you may have hit an animal, stop your vehicle if it is safe to do so, check the animal and call RSPCA Ambulance or Wildcare,’ she says.

The Koala Breeding Season Awareness Campaign asks members of the community to take notice of all warning signs in wildlife areas, known koala crossing hotspots and busy rural roads.

Bear Grills is expected to be released from the Moggill Koala Rehabilitation Centre in the coming months.

His ordeal has highlighted the plight of koalas injured by vehicles, and his incredible tale has been told on television news and shared across social media channels.

Koala rescue data from RSPCA and Wildcare shows that vehicle strikes were the leading cause of koalas needing help last year in the City of Logan.

More than 70 per cent of koalas which ended up being involved in road accidents did not survive.

If you spot a koala, check if they are sick or injured. Here is what to look out for:

  • Red, inflamed or crusty eyes
  • Very dirty, wet or brown bottom
  • Signs of injury such as cuts, blood or fur loss
  • Very skinny
  • Not using all four limbs when climbing or walking
  • Sitting at the base of a tree or in the same tree for several days.

If you have spotted a sick or injured koala, call for help immediately.

  • RSPCA: 1300 ANIMAL (1300 264 625) – 7:00am to 7:00pm
  • Wildcare: 07 5527 2444 – open 24 hours a day 7 days a week
  • Koala Rescue Redlands and Surrounds: 0435 504 222 – open 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
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