Some of the organisations that we support and support us in our efforts include; our amazing network of Veterinarians, Australian Koala Foundation, Kangaroo Island Wildlife Network, Port Macquarie Koala Hospital, Australia Zoo, Parks and Wildlife SA, several renowned research organisations (CSIRO / Universities and independent groups), Department of Environment and Water (DEW), Adelaide Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS), SA Country Fire Service (CFS), and SA Police (SAPOL).  

There are nearly a thousand species of eucalyptus tree, but a koala will only eat the leaf of about 20 of these. They have a very sensitive sense of smell and can tell if a leaf has too many toxins in it and also how much water it has. Before climbing a tree, they often smell the trunk to tell if the tree has suitable food leaf (also known as browse) at the top. They occasionally eat melaleuca, bark, dirt, and lichens to get some of the other nutrients they require not found in eucalyptus leaf. Koalas are pretty fussy eaters, only choosing the tastiest leaves, and just because they ate a particular variety one day, doesn’t mean they’ll eat it the next. This keeps our carers busy searching for fresh and different varieties of gum leaves to keep the koalas in their care well fed.

Male koalas have an extra set of vocal chords and a large scent gland that runs down the middle of their chest. They rub this scent gland on trees to let the females know who they are and that they’re ready to breed, and let the other males know this is one of their trees. They use their two sets of vocal chords to sound a deep, loud bellow. This lets others in the area know they’re here and this is their territory.

One of the most interesting things about a koala's anatomy (besides the pouch, of course) is their hands. They are extrememly dexterous with two thumbs on each hand (see above), tipped with long razor sharp claws to give them exceptional grip when climbing. Koalas are the only marsupial with a fingerprint like a humans. Each one is unique. Furthermore, koalas have a colour pattern around their nostrils (black and pink) which is also unique to the individual - and easier to use to identify them than getting their fingerprints..!

South Australia’s koalas are slightly larger than their northern relatives, with longer, darker fur to help keep them warm in the colder climate.

Although rarely seen in the wild, a group of koalas is sometimes called a 'cuddle'. So cute!   

HABITAT  DEGRADATION 
Continued land clearing and development means that habitat loss is driving koalas into less desirable and already inhabited areas. We are finding koalas in areas of the city where they have not been seen since before development. Even within suitable habitats, numbers are concentrated causing greater competition for the available food sources and disputes over territory. This continual search for a suitable place to live results in koalas crossing roads and entering properties with dogs, resulting in the obvious horrible outcomes.

CLIMATE CHANGE
As the impacts of climate change mean hotter, drier summers in Australia there will be more frequent and longer and hotter heatwaves. These conditions mean the water content of the leaves eaten by koalas is lower, resulting in significant rates of dehydration and heat stress, forcing them to more actively seek sources to drink from on the ground, exposing them to further environmental risks.  

INTRODUCED DISEASES
Treatment of disease in koalas is very complicated. Koalas have incredibly sensitive gut flora, meaning that antibiotic use can be harmful or even fatal. The renal disease prominent in South Australian koala populations is believed to be due to lack of genetic diversity arising from the small reintroduced population and therefore there is no treatment for this affliction. Mange, a type of skin mite introduced and spread by feral foxes is only treatable in its early stages and is a long slow process. It is highly contagious; spread by a koala simply coming into contact with the same surface (tree or ground) as an infected koala or fox.