July 31st, 2024Super cute additions at local wildlife park
Keepers at the Ballarat Wildlife Park say they’re delighted to welcome eight koala joeys this season.
It’s the highest number of koala joeys born at the local wildlife attraction that they’ve ever had in a single year to date.
The super cute new additions range in age from three to six months and keepers say the small baby boom at the park follows an increase in the number of mature adult koalas residing there.
The park’s head mammal keeper Cass Handcock says all of the new koala joeys are happy and healthy.
“Some are just a lump in their mum’s pouch,” Cass says.
“Some are starting to stick limbs out and some are starting to eat leaves.”
With wild koalas increasingly under threat due to habitat clearing, Ms Handcock says it has become important to breed them at zoos and wildlife parks.
“Their main threats are habitat clearing so they’re losing their home and losing the corridors that they can get between the homes that they live in,” Cass says.
The Ballarat Wildlife Park has also earlier launched a fundraising campaign aimed at planting gum trees to support habitat restoration efforts for koalas.
“Branching Out for Koalas,” seeks to address the pressing need for suitable habitat for these iconic Australian marsupials, as well as providing food for more than 40 koalas at the park.
“Branching Out for Koalas” is an urgent call to action for individuals, organisations, and businesses passionate about wildlife conservation with more information available from the park’s website, or by visiting the local attraction in person.
The funds raised through the campaign will be used to plant gum trees in designated areas within the Ballarat Wildlife Park and its surrounding regions.
Individuals and organisations are encouraged to contribute whatever amount they can to support the planting of gum trees and the restoration of koala habitats.
The Ballarat Wildlife Park will also be contributing to the fundraising efforts, by donating a portion of each koala encounter at the park.
