news, local-news, Port Stephens Koalas, Wild Koala Day, One Mile, Koala, myth

It was only fitting that on Wild Koala Day, Port Stephens Koalas had an “extremely wild” creature in care. For six weeks, One Mile-based carer Julie Jennings has been nursing Gavin, a four-year-old male koala, back to health after he was hit by a car at Glen Oak. “He’s a wild koala in his prime from a rural location,” Ms Jennings said. “He doesn’t like people and he takes no prisoners.” Wild Koala Day was on Wednesday, May 3. It is a day to recognise wild koalas and to protect their natural habitat. Port Stephens Koalas used the day to renew their calls for the community and Australians everywhere to help protect koalas in the wild. “We need to save this iconic species from extinction,” Ms Jennings, who has been a carer for two years, said. “These animals have helped put Australia on the world map. You ask anyone and they can probably tell you where a koala comes from. For Australia to lose such an animal, that’s a travesty.” Ms Jennings has a second koala in care – Kevin. Kevin is an eight-year-old male koala and has a drinking problem. Koalas will only drink water if they are dehydrated. Kevin drinks a lot of water, but it is unclear why. “He’s a head scratcher for the vet,” Ms Jennings said. “The theory as to why he drinks so much water is that because he was so stressed from people being around his food trees [in One Mile Beach car park] he’s developed an ulcer and he’s drinking water to ease the pain. “But because we don’t know so much about koalas, we can’t be certain.” Koalas around Australia are declining in every state except South Australia. There are up to six populations of koalas in Victoria and South Australia that are over populated. However, these creatures are the exception, not the rule Port Stephens Koalas said. “Koalas are not over populated but they are in danger of extinction due to habitat loss, stress, disease, car hits, bushfires and dog attacks.” For Wild Koala Day, Port Stephens Koalas released a “few facts” about the creatures. The organisation busted the myth that koalas sleep so much because they are drunk on eucalyptus leaves. Koalas rest because they have a low nutrient diet. Additionally, koalas have been found to eat many species of eucalyptus, not just one. Koalas can run at 32 kilometres an hour and leap up a tree in two metre bounds. Healthy wild koalas are not docile and will defend themselves if a human tries to touch them. Even in captivity, studies have shown koalas become stressed when humans approach. While koalas may look cuddly, wild koalas should not be approached for a cuddle. If you see a sick or injured koala in Port Stephens, phone the 24-hour rescue line on 0418 628 483.

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