Have you ever seen a koala? Chances are, you haven’t, as they are native to Australia and only found in a handful of zoos in the U.S. Currently, fires in Australia are destroying the koalas’ natural habitat. Many zoos in the U.S. are helping out with fundraisers and ways to donate (see bottom of the page for those). But what about koalas in U.S. zoos? How common are they, and where can you see them? Koalas are only included at 10 U.S. zoos. Most of these zoos are in tropical climates (3 in Florida, 3 in California). Two Ohio zoos are the only ones in the Midwest (Columbus and Cleveland). Leading the way in the care of koalas is the San Diego Zoo. Not only does this zoo house over 20 koalas, but they do their best to make koalas available for everyone. Let me tell you about their Koala Loan Program.
Koala Conservation and Education Loan Program
San Diego Zoo Global began The Koala Conservation and Education Loan Program in 1983. According to Andrew James, Public Relations Representative at San Diego Zoo Global, The Koala Conservation and Education Loan Program is designed to connect people with wildlife. The zoo is hopeful this will inspire a passion for nature that is critical to saving species worldwide. To participate, zoos contact San Diego Zoo Global. Then, zoos must have a habitat that passes guidelines from both San Diego Zoo Global, and the Australian Federal Government. Per James, sometimes zoos create a pop-up habitat, while others create a permanent habitat for future use.
The transfer is scheduled once the zoo’s habitat is approved. To make sure each traveling koala is comfortable, a keeper journeys with the animal to its new home. The keeper will stay there until the koala settles in. This is customary with other animal transfers between zoos. (We learned about this at the Potter Park Zoo in Lansing, MI, when discussing the transfer of Phineas, the male rhino, to breed with their female Doppsee) Eucalyptus is essential to a koala’s diet. Fresh branches are shipped to them twice per week if eucalyptus does not grow well at the koala’s new home.
This program provides thousands of people with an opportunity to observe and enjoy these unique animals. It is designed to inspire positive conservation action in guests. Funds generated through this program are given to support koala habitat conservation efforts in Australia.
Recent Loan Program Recipients
Since 1983, San Diego Zoo Global has loaned approximately 80 koalas to zoos in 12 different countries. While the zoo does not have a publicly available list of these zoos, there have been a few recent examples. In 2015, the Indianapolis Zoo had koalas Milo and Thackory on loan for the summer. In the summer of 2017, we were fortunate enough to see koalas on loan from the zoo. Our visit to the Great Plains Zoo in Sioux Falls, South Dakota included two koalas. The koalas – Moki and Burra – spent their summer in South Dakota, and then returned to San Diego. The Toledo Zoo also received a koala from the loan program in 2017. This koala – Coedie – has remained at the zoo ever since in a habitat inside their aviary.
Our family has been lucky enough to see koalas at five different zoos. We have plans for this summer to visit them at the Riverbanks Zoo in South Carolina. However, we’re always on the lookout for the Koala Loan Program to visit a zoo near us. The list of zoos in the koala loan program for 2020 is not yet finalized. If you happen to come across a koala at your local zoo, be sure to let us know – we’d love to see it!
To read more about the San Diego Zoo Global’s Koala Loan Program, click here.
How You Can Help
The current situation for koalas in Australia is very bleak, due to the fires. Several U.S. zoos are providing ways to help. To learn more, check out the links below:
Columbus Zoo
Zoo Tampa
Zoos Victoria – find them on Facebook
Photo credit for top photo belongs to San Diego Zoo Global.
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