It’s a boy!
Phillip Island Nature Parks rangers at the Koala Conservation Reserve were recently delighted by a visit from a wild mother koala and her male joey - just in time for Wild Koala Day on May 3.
The joey is estimated to be around 12 months old and is the first to be born on the Island since 2007. The pair was first spotted in January and had not been seen since.
“We have been hoping to see the mother and joey again and were delighted when it arrived in a gum tree near the Koala Conservation Reserve boundary,” said Daniel Kallstrom, Nature Parks Senior Environment Ranger.
“He is still with his Mum, but I expect that she is starting to reduce their bond so he can become independent at around 18 months of age.
“This is special because we estimate there are less than 20 koalas left in the wild on Phillip Island due to habitat loss, the disease Chlamydia, being hit on the roads and predation.
“Koalas are not native to Phillip Island and were introduced in the late 1800s,” explained Daniel.
“One of the main reasons for the decline in the population is loss of habitat. The Koala Conservation Reserve protects a population of koalas and their habitat which also provides homes for a wide variety of wildlife including bats, birds, echidnas and insects.
“It is fitting that the koala arrived close to Wild Koala Day #wildkoaladay as this is a day to celebrate wild koalas and protect their habitats.
“We can all help by to protect wild koalas and all wildlife by driving carefully on the Island’s roads and planting native trees in our gardens.”
While koala populations in New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and Queensland are listed as vulnerable, that’s not the case in Victoria.
Scientists from the Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research (ARI) recently estimated there were more than 400,000 koalas across the state.
Click here to subscribe to the Advertiser online. Your online subscription includes: Unlimited access to all editions, breaking news alerts, free 7 day trial, front page sneak peeks, sport reports, historical files, online exclusives, behind the scenes, subscriber's group, and so much more - all for just $5.95 per month 😃