Koala Retreat will introduce a new word, “DIVERSITY” is a concept that offers equal importance to “CONSERVATION”. Throughout this theme, I will endeavour to explain these concepts and point out key concerns in both conservation and captivity work.
On 17 December 2019, while the bushfires were raging, the Sydney Morning Herald reported that Dr Kellie Leigh of Science for Wildlife (see http://scienceforwildlife.org ), Taronga Zoo's conservation partner, had "rescued" a dozen koalas "from the bushfire-ravaged Blue Mountains and sent to Taronga Zoo, as an out-of-control blaze burned towards thei...
Why Move 12 Healthy Koalas From the Blue Mountains It's great that everyday Australians support their koalas and general wildlife and that they are happy to volunteer their time and incur expenses in any way they can. However, I argue that it's always at a cost! This is not meant to offend anyone, but the negative consequences of interactions betwe...
Our Balance of Behaviour When it comes to the koala, there's different cultures, environments experiences and information coming from the conservation and the captive sector from a range of different levels. Because even from the zoological institution, the bigger the staff infrastructure, the more distanced they become from the work itself, as the...
For councils to win the battle into the future and reduce the amount of roadkill on Appin and Picton road, then a number of different programs need to be supported their fencing solution. The fencing suggestion by both Campbelltown & Wollondilly councils focusing on redirecting their koala's movements also needs to support them at the same time...
As Shakespeare might have said- "TO HOLD or NOT TO HOLD" , that is the question!" There is a difference between true koala parks THROUGHOUT AUSTRALIA that generate their income from the koala while allowing handling of koalas, versus the koala parks that do not. You would be surprised at the differences between parks across various states of Austra...
The cultural differences between STATES Sharing Information between State Governments If the Victorian government really wanted to avoid the cull (in 2014), they could have simply asked for support and guidance from Queensland's koala captivity sector, who are leaders in the koala industry. Of course, this may have already been done, though i...
To ensure the koala can thrive into the 21st century, they must be part of society. With this in mind, it is important to reference last week's announcement that koala milk could provide society the protection of super bugs in the near future. Anything is possible! The koala is the fourth marsupial to be genetically sequenced - with the Australian ...
The 3-STEP PROCESS includes mapping and understanding the population of koalas in the wild. The Australian Koala Foundation (AKF) can play a role in this but fall short in managing to prevent koala inbreeding, disease control and the ever-increasing road kill rates. It seems they are leaving this role to the public which shows complacency as they a...
Where the Bloody Hell are you? Quote by "Lara Bingle" Where the Funk is the AKF (Australian Koala Foundation)? They were missing in action at Cape Otway Region Victoria in 2015. The problem with non-profit organisations is that they tend to sensationalise issues, capitalising on humanity's desire for emotion-driven content, rather than prioritising...
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What happened at Cape Otway Region, Victoria? Case Study: What Not To Do! Victorian-Cape Otway Region and the Great Disappointment A classic example of a policy that lacked vision, insight and governance was the Victorian Government's Cape Otway koala cull in 2014. The state government, acting on poor advice and wanting a cheap and qui...
What happened at Cape Otway Region, Victoria? It is weird how at one end of the spectrum you have tourists taking photos of the koalas and native wildlife, while at the other end, the Victorian Government were shooting the very same koalas in the same area. Case Study: What Not To Do! What were you thinking, Victoria? Cape Otway Region Victor...
Maintaining the foundation in which our wildlife live, would be as much of importance as the wildlife itself! Here in Sydney 10's of Thousands-Tree Die-back, Eucalyptus moluccana In the wider spaces of western and south-western Sydney, as well as the general Sydney region, from Liverpool councils, Wollondilly councils, Penrith council and further. ...
Explain to me: Who is a Koala Expert?: Part-2 It's funny how both society and koala habitat is defragmented! They go hand in hand! From a local based koala group-looking for answers but looking in the wrong direction. The disconnect on a local level has repercussions right across the eastern coast of Australia. The Wollondilly ...
The koala industry has become complacent . While the conservation sector is losing the battle to save koala habitat, the captive sector is stuck in its traditional and conservative modus operandi and is reluctant (and unwilling) to push boundaries and innovate. The over-use of the term Koala Experts One of the main reasons for this is the over-us...
What's In the Word "Conservation"? Challenging Traditional Assumptions of Conservation Introduction This article is part of a series. To read the first article, click here. Koala conservation comes in many sizes, shapes and forms, and includes captive management. However, over the years the conservation sector has extricated themselves from the cap...
What's In the Word "Conservation?" Challenging Traditional Assumptions of Conservation Introduction In this theme, I cover some of the key questions surrounding the ambiguities of the definition of 'conservation' . Throughout my many years working professionally in the captive koala sector, I have noticed a gradual shift in the meaning and understa...
