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Hero dog honoured for saving over 100 koalas

<p><em>Image: Nine News</em></p> <p>A former rescue dog who saved over 100 koalas during the catastrophic Black Summer bushfires has been honoured for his work in the United Kingdom.</p> <p>Bear, a six-year-old Australian koolie, was honoured by the International Fund for Animal Welfare at the House of Lords earlier this week.</p> <p>He appeared via video link to accept the award.</p> <p>Bear’s handler Romane Cristescy, of the University of the Sunshine Coast, couldn’t be prouder of the former rescue dog.</p> <p>“We think Bear really deserved this award,” she said.</p> <p>“He’s been such a good boy in helping us find and rescue a lot of koalas, especially during the bushfires but he works throughout the year to help us in our job to make a better and safer place for koalas.</p> <p>“We’ll give bear extra pats and extra play for his award.”</p> <p>Bear was one of two dogs honoured during the ceremony.</p> <p>Jasper, a cockapoo, won “Animal of the Year” for his work in supporting frontline NHS staff through the pandemic.</p> <p>Bear’s boundless energy made him a perfect candidate for the Detection Dogs for Conversation program at the University of the Sunshine Coast.</p> <p>He was trained to recognise the scent of koalas’ fur.</p> <p>Over the 2019-2020 bushfire season Bear is credited with saving 100 marsupials after the habitats were scorched.</p> <p>Once he’d detect their smell, Bear would drop silently to the ground at the base of the tree, to ensure it is not disturbed.</p> <p>A total of 33 people lost their lives in the fires which burned across NSW, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia.</p> <p>Three billion animals are estimated to have died over, 24 million hectares of land was burnt, and 3000 homes were lost.</p>

Family & Pets

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Adorable koalas rehomed after over-eating trees

<p><span>Over 90 koalas have settled nicely into their new home after they ate all of their food sources in parts of Victoria. </span></p> <p><span>The marsupials were bundled into washing baskets and crates by wildlife rescuers, to be released into their new home in the Great Otway National Park, off the Great Ocean Road.</span></p> <p><span>54 female koalas also received fertility control in order to slow population growth, during the relocation.</span></p> <p><span><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7842328/koalas.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/086991c842e4458582969b2792c50ce1" /></span></p> <p><em>Images: Yahoo Australia</em></p> <p><span>Victoria's environment department (DELWP) only allowed 32 koalas to remain on site, however a total of 46 male and 46 female koalas were trucked to the nearby land north of Lorne. </span></p> <p><span> </span><span>They have been distributed throughout the land in lower numbers.</span><span> </span></p> <p><span>DELWP has moved koalas in the region to avoid over-browsing of their favourite food, manna gums for six years.</span><span> </span></p> <p><span>“It’s encouraging to see the manna gum trees at Cape Otway starting to recover – they’re in their best condition in ten years, with foliage returning and new saplings starting to grow,” a DELWP spokesperson said.</span><span> </span></p> <p><span>“The health of the koala population is tracking well, much better than in previous years when the koalas had significantly depleted their food source, by stripping many manna gum trees of their leaves.”</span></p>

Travel Tips

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Hundreds of koalas brutally murdered during routine logging

<p>WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES</p> <p>A few hundred of perhaps Australia’s most beloved animal, koalas, have reportedly been murdered in Victoria this week.</p> <p>Animals Australia has shared devastating images of injured and dead koalas who were “mowed down” after logging occurred 12km west of Portland.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">On becoming aware of this situation on Friday, we flew in a veterinary team from <a href="https://twitter.com/Vets_Compassion?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Vets_Compassion</a>. A second vet team was flown in to assist with the treatment of surviving animals yesterday. <a href="https://t.co/sSlF43IbLV">pic.twitter.com/sSlF43IbLV</a></p> — Animals Australia (@AnimalsAus) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnimalsAus/status/1223738890277646336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2020</a></blockquote> <p>The species – who are now a threatened species after one of Australia’s worst bushfire season in recorded history – were hurt at a razed bluegum plantation.</p> <p>“Koalas are having their homes mowed down,” said Animals Australia.</p> <p>“On becoming aware of this situation on Friday, we flew in a veterinary team,” Animals Australia confirmed on Sunday morning.</p> <p>“With the support of local authorities and wildlife carers, vets are seeking to save as many of these precious animals as possible.”</p> <p>The details of this case are still unknown, Animals Australia confirmed on Sunday.</p> <p>“We are still gathering the details as to what has occurred in this case but it would appear that there are various breaches of legislation, including the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, which we will be supporting authorities to pursue,” they said on social media.</p> <p>“By law, the companies that own these plantations must provide koala ‘spotters’ to identify koalas in trees before logging commences, so that animals can be safely removed and relocated.</p> <p>“There is also a legal responsibility to ensure the welfare of koalas after logging has ceased.”</p> <p>It is assumed that in result of the habitat destruction from bushfires, hundreds of koalas sought refuge on commercial property.</p> <p>“The logging of these forests then destroys precious habitat,” shared Animals Australia.</p> <p>Wildlife Victoria CEO Dr Megan Davidson said it was impossible to understand how the logging could happen if koalas were in them.</p> <p>“In these tragic cases, we are so sad not only for the animals, but also for the wildlife carers and vets who are on the ground dealing with the horrors of dead, broken, sick and orphaned animals,” Davidson said.</p> <p>“Here’s a thought,” shared Animals Australia. “How about instead of planting plantations then mowing them down, we should be planting blue gum and leaving them for koalas to live in.”</p> <p>The gruesome images have resulted in calls for change at a national level, with a <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.change.org/p/daniel-andrews-koala-massacres-portland-victoria?recruiter=743946376&amp;utm_source=share_petition&amp;utm_medium=twitter&amp;utm_campaign=share_petition&amp;recruited_by_id=05242690-62d9-11e7-88b5-65895f00d004" target="_blank">Change.org petition</a> already up and running.</p> <p>“This barbaric practice needs to stop across the state and immediately,” the petition – directed to Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews – reads.</p> <p>As reported by the Australian Koala Foundation (AKF) there are less than 100,000 koalas left in the wild and the population could be in fact as low as 43,000.</p> <p>If Australia’s koala population falls below 50,000 it would be “functionally extinct”, the AKF said.</p>

Family & Pets

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Devastating scenes for wildlife rescuers at Kangaroo Island

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Wildlife rescuers have been left heartbroken as they comprehend the sheer scale and task of helping injured wildlife that have been impacted by the bushfires.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Wildlife rescuers were surrounded by burnt-out trees and ground covered with ash and dead animals who passed in the bushfires.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dozens of injured koalas have been arriving at Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park’s makeshift animal hospital in cat carriers, washing baskets or clinging to their carers.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, it’s not all positive as many that have been rescued are found to be so badly injured that they must be euthanised. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Steve Selwood, South Australia Veterinary Emergency Management team leader at the hospital said that 46,000 koalas were thought to be on the island before the bushfires. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The fires here were particularly ferocious and fast moving, so we’re seeing a lot less injured wildlife than in other fires,” he tells </span><a href="https://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/wildlife-rescuers-find-signs-of-life-among-kangaroo-island-devastation/news-story/869a45d590338135af1254b4f6ec1176"><span style="font-weight: 400;">news.com.au</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“A lot of the wildlife was incinerated.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With almost half of Kangaroo Island being ruined by fire, an estimated 80 per cent of koala habitat has been wiped out, which means that once the koalas are healed, they have nowhere to go.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This issue is on the backburner as teams of vets work to save as many native wildlife as they can.</span></p>

Domestic Travel

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Koalas are the face of Australian tourism: what now after the fires?

<p>In 1936, <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/201215302?searchTerm=Koala%20as%20tourist%20attraction&amp;searchLimits=">The Evening News in Rockhampton wrote</a>:</p> <blockquote> <p><em>The time has arrived when Australians must decide whether or not they will accept responsibility for the perpetuation of the koala […]</em></p> <p><em>It seems extraordinary that this animal which is so greatly admired, not only by overseas visitors, but by Australians, is being allowed to suffer extinction.</em></p> </blockquote> <p>The preservation of the koala was not talked about so much in environmentalist terms: instead, the koala was seen as a crucial icon of Australian identity and tourism.</p> <p>The earliest picture postcard featuring a koala I have found was postmarked 1903, and it has been a mainstay of tourism advertising ever since.</p> <p>In the latest ad from Tourism Australia, the koala has been recruited, <a href="https://twitter.com/Australia/status/1209852669281669122">once again, to market Australia</a>, starring alongside Kylie Minogue, chilling in a graceful eucalyptus on Sydney Harbour.</p> <p>But amid Australia’s ongoing bush fire crisis, <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/out-of-respect-kylie-minogue-matesong-tourism-australia-ad-pulled-amid-bushfire-coverage-20200103-p53opl.html">airing of the digital ad has been “paused”</a>.</p> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/dec/27/australias-environment-minister-says-up-to-30-of-koalas-killed-in-nsw-mid-north-coast-fires">Up to 30% of the koala population</a> from the NSW mid-north coast is expected to be lost in the fires, alongside <a href="https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/kangaroo-island-bushfire-pristine-wildlife-including-koalas-dunnarts-feared-lost/news-story/9a5cbde8e5e4643a93035d12110204e9">50% of the koalas on Kangaroo Island</a> – the last remaining wild population not infected by deadly chlamydia.</p> <p>Eighty four years on from the Evening News’ story, we are still talking about <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/25/world/australia/koala-fires-functionally-extinct.html">the possible extinction of koalas</a>, our national tourism icon.</p> <p><strong>The creation of an icon</strong></p> <p>Koalas were exhibited at Melbourne Zoo from 1861 and at Taronga Zoo from 1914. But at the same time, koalas were hunted ruthlessly for fur <a href="https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1046/j.1523-1739.2000.99382.x">throughout much of the 19th century</a>. This practice only came to a halt at the end of the 1920s.<span class="attribution"><span class="source"></span></span></p> <p>By the 1930s, three koala-themed wildlife parks – the Koala Park in Pennant Hills, Sydney, Lone Pine Koala Park on the Brisbane River and the Adelaide Snake Park and Koala Farm – had opened for business.</p> <p>1933 saw the publication of Dorothy Wall’s <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1455149.Blinky_Bill?from_search=true&amp;qid=8noWFQRKGJ&amp;rank=1">Blinky Bill</a>. Zoologist Ellis Troughton’s book <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Furred_Animals_of_Australia">Furred Animals of Australia</a> (1931) and natural historian Charles Barrett, with <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Koala-Story-Australias-Native-Bear/dp/1440495815">Koala: The Story of the Native Bear</a> (1937), also influenced public attitudes towards the native animal.</p> <p>In 1934, <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/28019823?searchTerm=Koala%20Park%20an%20Australian%20sanctuary&amp;searchLimits=l-title=35">the Sydney Morning Herald called</a> the koala “Australia’s national pet”.</p> <p>Perhaps most famously, it was the star of a <a href="https://360.advertisingweek.com/why-does-this-koala-hate-qantas-airways">Qantas advertising campaign</a> from 1967 to 1992.</p> <p><strong>The loss of a tourism icon</strong></p> <p>A <a href="https://www.savethekoala.com/sites/savethekoala.com/files/uploads/Conrad%202014%20The%20Economic%20Value%20of%20the%20Koala%5B2%5D.pdf">2014 study</a> suggests koala tourism could now be worth as much as A$3.2 billion to the Australian economy and account for up to 30,000 jobs.</p> <p>In 2020, Australia has 68 zoos and wildlife parks exhibiting just under 900 koalas. A photograph with a koala is a must-have souvenir for many international tourists.</p> <p>But it is impossible to look at Kylie hanging out with her koala mates without bringing to mind the shocking images of badly burned koalas and other wildlife as the devastating wild fires destroy millions of hectares of bushland habitat.</p> <p>The plump, relaxed, pampered koalas in the Tourism Australia ad are far removed from the horrific realities of fire. These catastrophic fires have compounded the threatening processes that already affect koala populations: habitat destruction and fragmentation, disease, car accidents and dog attack.</p> <p>Recent research has shown koalas are also <a href="https://www.iucn.org/sites/dev/files/import/downloads/fact_sheet_red_list_koala_v2.pdf">vulnerable to climate change</a> through changes in the nutritional status of eucalyptus leaves, excessively hot temperatures and these canopy-destroying wildfires.</p> <p><strong>A life beyond extinction?</strong></p> <p>Australians have clearly shown they are willing to take action to protect the animal, with the <a href="https://10daily.com.au/news/australia/a191119bdupl/koala-bushfire-gofundme-second-most-successful-aussie-fundraiser-of-all-time-20191129">GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital</a> raising almost A$2 million.</p> <p>The outpouring of emotion and financial support reflects the strong connection that Australians feel for the koala, formed out of the interplay of the animal’s baby-like features and its multitude of representations in popular culture, including, of course, tourism marketing.</p> <p>Sadly, it is more than likely the koala will go on serving the national interest through its role in tourism even if it was to tragically <a href="https://theconversation.com/a-report-claims-koalas-are-functionally-extinct-but-what-does-that-mean-116665">go extinct</a> in the wild.</p> <p>Most koala tourism is based on experiences with captive koalas. And extinction hasn’t been a problem elsewhere: Tasmanian Tourism uses a stylised image of the <a href="https://theconversation.com/tasmanian-tigers-were-going-extinct-before-we-pushed-them-over-the-edge-88947">thylacine</a> in its logo.</p> <p>The long term survival of the koala ultimately rests with governments and their policies on forest clearing, fire management and climate change.</p> <p>If future tourists to Australia are to experience the koala in the wild, it is imperative that governments act now to strengthen the protection of the species and most crucially, its habitat.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/129347/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: http://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/kevin-markwell-170986">Kevin Markwell</a>, Professor in Tourism, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/southern-cross-university-1160">Southern Cross University</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/koalas-are-the-face-of-australian-tourism-what-now-after-the-fires-129347">original article</a>.</em></p>

Travel Tips

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Lewis the koala put to sleep in hospital after horrific bushfire burns

<p>The 14-year-old buck who made international headlines after footage emerged of him coming out of the NSW bushfires with horrifying burns, has died. </p> <p>Lewis the koala was rescued by a heroic grandmother who carried him in her arms and the heartbreaking moment sent hearts racing around the world. </p> <p>The Port Macquarie Koala Hospital has shared sad news on Tuesday afternoon, saying staff made the decision to put him to sleep. </p> <p>“We placed him under general anaesthesia this morning to assess his burns injuries and change the bandages,” the hospital said in a post at about 2.30pm.</p> <p>The hospital said Lewis’ burns became worse “and unfortunately “would not have gotten better”.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">UPDATE: Lewis, the koala who went viral in this daring rescue video, has died at Port Macquarie Koala Hospital <a href="https://t.co/RshwIOyvyn">https://t.co/RshwIOyvyn</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RIPLewis?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RIPLewis</a> <a href="https://t.co/nsdOVVAI0U">pic.twitter.com/nsdOVVAI0U</a></p> — NowThis (@nowthisnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/nowthisnews/status/1199342797469425664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 26, 2019</a></blockquote> <p>“The Koala Hospital’s number one goal is animal welfare, so it was on those grounds that this decision was made,” it read.</p> <p>$1.66 million in donations streamed in for the hospital after Lewis’ sad rescue went viral. </p> <p>Grandmother Toni Doherty was filmed ripping the shirt off her back near Long Flat in NSW to save the wailing koala. </p> <p>The 14-year-old suffered burns to his feet, stomach and chest. </p> <p>Named “Ellenborough Lewis” after Toni’s grandchild, or Lewis for short, he had been receiving care by long-term home care volunteer and koala hospital supervisor, Barb.</p> <p>“Barb hand feeds Lewis a single leaf at a time, with feeding taking up to an hour a feed,” the hospital said on Friday.</p> <p>“Lewis’s prognosis is guarded as he sustained significant burns however he is receiving the best possible care.”</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7832794/koala-lewis.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/8dba411c87ee48d3aa0091b70f4a008e" /></p> <p>Lewis was just one of 31 koalas brought into the hospital from fire-grounds in the surrounding area, and an estimate of 350 koalas was killed as a result of the horrific bushfires. </p> <p>There are grave concerns from wildlife rescuers that there is a “much worse” toll of about 1000 koalas across NSW, Queensland and South Australia who were killed. </p> <p>Toni’s husband Peter Doherty told<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.nine.com.au/" target="_blank">Nine</a><span> </span>they “were there this morning” when Lewis died.</p> <p>“We are naturally very sad about this, as we were hoping he’d pull through but we accept his injuries were severe and debilitating and would have been quite painful,” Mr Doherty said.</p> <p>The Port Macquarie Koala Hospital is part of a not-for-profit organisation established in 1973. </p> <p>They operate with four staff members and rely on the help of 140 volunteers. </p> <p>According to its website, the hospital has a treatment room, eight intensive care units, six outdoor intensive care units and 33 rehabilitation yards.</p> <p>In total, they handle between 200 and 250 koalas every year.</p>

Family & Pets

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These cute koala joeys are learning how to climb

<p>On the spectrum of Australian national animals, they <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/travel/domestic-travel/2017/06/australia-zoo-welcomes-koala-joey/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">don’t come much cuter than koala joeys</span></strong></a>. Especially koala joeys that are still coming to grips with how the world works.</p> <p>In this video, shared by the folks at the koala hospital at Magnetic Island, Queensland, a pair of baby koalas are getting ready to jump into the big world of climbing trees.</p> <p>But first, they need a bit of practice.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fbeesandkoalas%2Fvideos%2F1987177321537942%2F&amp;show_text=0&amp;width=476" width="476" height="476" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p> <p>The koala joeys, named Stormy and Curious George, showcase their climbing skills on their careers legs, which are cleverly substituted for trees by these marsupials.</p> <p>How cute! What’s your favourite Australian animal?</p> <p><em>Hero image credit: Facebook/Magnetic Island Koala Hospital via Storyful</em></p>

International Travel

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Koala cuddle school might be the best job in the world

<p>Few animals are quite as cute as the koala, and the Gold Coast’s Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the only places in the world where you can cuddle these marsupials.</p> <p>To see what it takes to be a koala-cuddler, watch the video below:</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1R-QFQGWYuc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p>So, there you have it! Think you’d be interested in a career change?</p> <p><em>Image credit: YouTube / Funny Pets</em></p>

International Travel

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Australia Zoo welcomes koala joey

<p>Australia Zoo has the first-born koala joey of the season making his public debut on Tuesday.</p> <p>The infant male, called Macadamia, will see zoo visitors for the first time after spending his first months in his mother Willow’s pouch.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="498" height="275" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/38004/koala-2_498x275.jpg" alt="Koala 2"/></p> <p>When Macadamia was born, he would have roughly been the size of a kidney bean before opening his eyes at 22 weeks.</p> <p>Australia Zoo have said that the joey weighed half a gram when he was born.</p> <p>The grey bundle is now out of his mother’s pouch and likes to clamber up her hide.</p> <p>The joey was named Macadamia after the iconic Aussie nut and Australia Zoo is sure visitors will love him just as much.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="498" height="275" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/38005/koala-3_498x275.jpg" alt="Koala 3"/></p> <p>Macadamia is expected to be fully independent around his first birthday.</p> <p>Since Macadamia was born, Australia Zoo has welcomed 12 other joeys this season.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Australia Zoo</em></p>

International Travel

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Imogen the koala blisses out on pats

<p>Imogen the koala is having a very good start to the week.</p> <p>You see, the favourite at Symbio Wildlife Park gets some special treatment with a dedicated staff member (that’s probably not true, but we would gladly take that job) giving the koala plenty of pats and belly rubs.</p> <p>Imogen gently closes her eyes as she enjoys the love and affection. If only all our weeks could start this way!</p> <p><em>Video credit: <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/symbiozoo/?fref=ts">Symbio Wildlife Park</a></span> via Storyful</em></p>

News

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Zookeeper receives Valentine’s Day kisses from two cute koalas

<p>It’s not just humans who get to celebrate Valentine’s Day! Two cute koalas, James and Harry, from Symbio Wildlife Park in Sydney’s south have spent the day cuddling up to their favourite keeper, Tami Wilson.</p> <p>The adorable marsupials wandered over to her for a snuggle and to enjoy a lovely, big bunch of red roses, and we have to say – it puts all of our Valentine’s Day dates to shame.</p> <p>See the sweet moment above and tell us in the comments, did you celebrate Valentine’s Day yesterday?</p> <p><em>Credit: Symbio Wildlife Park via Storyful</em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2017/02/distracted-beagle-steals-hearts-at-westminster-dog-show/"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Adorably distracted beagle steals hearts at Westminster Dog Show</em></span></strong></a></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2017/02/cheeky-pigeon-gets-free-ride-and-lunch-on-the-tube/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Cheeky pigeon gets free ride (and lunch) on the tube</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2017/02/millie-the-wombat-enjoys-much-needed-sprinkler-bath/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Millie the wombat enjoys much-needed sprinkler bath</strong></em></span></a></p>

News

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This koala and a butterfly are the best of friends

<p>You would be forgiven for thinking these photos were promotional shots for an upcoming live-action Disney film, but the reality is even sweeter. Willow, a koala at the Symbio Wildlife Park, has become unlikely friends with a beautiful monarch butterfly.</p> <p>Willow appeared very smitten with the inquisitive insect, who flew over to the joey while park employees were filming it on a flower. What they captured was even more gorgeous.</p> <p><img width="498" height="245" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/28303/koalaintext_498x245.jpg" alt="Koalaintext" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>“Before we knew it, it actually flew onto Willow's head and then stayed there for ages,” marketing manager Kevin Fallon told the <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-10-03/butterfly-photobombing-koala-joey-goes-viral/7897804" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">ABC</span></strong></a>. “We just never thought in a million years that would happen and Willow's reaction would be so priceless.”</p> <p>Take a look at the spectacular moment for yourself in the clip above and tell us in the comments, what’s the most unlikely friendship you’ve ever witnessed?</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/09/shayne-the-orphaned-koala-melting-hearts/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>The orphaned koala melting hearts around the world</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/07/couple-find-koala-in-living-room/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Couple return home to find a new koala housemate</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/06/baby-kola-rescued-after-storm/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Tiny baby koala rescued after storm is melting hearts</strong></em></span></a></p>

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The orphaned koala melting hearts around the world

<p>An orphaned baby koala is melting hearts around the world after photos emerged of the tiny marsupial cuddling up to a fluffy toy. Shayne was found by rescuers on the side of a road, just metres from where his mother lay after she was struck by a car. Thankfully, the tiny koala survived the ordeal uninjured, but now must adjust to life without his mum.</p> <p>“It’s very fortunate that we had an observant rescuer who found Shayne and brought him into us because he wouldn’t have lasted even a day in the wild by himself at his young age,” Dr Rosie Booth, director of the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital said. “Now he gets a second chance at life.”</p> <p>To help the poor animal overcome his trauma, his carers have given him an adorable stuffed toy koala so whenever he misses his mum, he has something to cuddle up with.</p> <p><img width="500" height="294" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/27708/bbkoala1_500x294.jpg" alt="Bbkoala1" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>“Once he is of acceptable weaning age and weight, Shayne will return to the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital to learn essential climbing and social skills from other young koalas before being released to the wild,” the hospital said in a statement.</p> <p>Take a look at the sweet baby koala in the video above, he will absolutely warm your heart.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/07/couple-find-koala-in-living-room/"><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Couple return home to find a new koala housemate</strong></span></em></a></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/06/baby-kola-rescued-after-storm/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Tiny baby koala rescued after storm is melting hearts</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/01/baby-koala-miraculously-survives-eagle-attack/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Baby koala miraculously survives eagle attack and massive fall</strong></em></span></a></p>

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Couple return home to find a new koala housemate

<p>When living in Australia, it comes as no surprise that people often find intruders of the animal variety in and around our homes. We’ve seen giant snakes found in bedrooms, goanna’s clinging to the front door, and kangaroos boxing in the front yard. But this time around, the uninvited guest is a little bit cuter.</p> <p>When they returned home from holiday recently, Port Stephens couple Michelle Goodman and Vicki Haines discovered a koala casually sitting on their sofa in the living room. </p> <p>“We walked in and saw this lovely, beautiful, fluffy koala sitting in the lounge. It looked exactly like he was watching TV,” Goodman told <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://omnyapp.com/shows/kofm-breakfast/michelle-tells-t-s-about-a-koala-in-her-lounge-roo" target="_blank">radio station KOFM</a></strong></span>. “He was facing the TV, sitting in front of the heater.”</p> <p>Naturally, the couple wanted to capture the odd occasion with some selfies, but the new house guest was rather intimidating. </p> <p>“Michele got this photo of herself as we were standing outside and keeping our distance. He’s sitting on the lounge and we’re out in the wind and the cold trying to get a selfie through the window,” Haines said.</p> <p>Goodman and Haines decided to call the Hunter Koala Preservation Society, who arrived a short time later and relocated the koala back to its own home.</p> <p>See more of the incredible images in the gallery above and tell us in the comments below, what would you do if you found a koala in your living room?</p> <p><em>Written by Pauline Morrissey. First appeared on <a href="http://www.domain.com.au/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Domain.com.au</span></strong></a>.</em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/07/dogs-could-be-banned-in-some-queensland-suburbs-due-to-koala-extinction/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Dogs could be banned in some Queensland suburbs due to koala extinction</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/06/baby-kola-rescued-after-storm/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Tiny baby koala rescued after storm is melting hearts</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/travel/international/2016/06/adorable-baby-koala-explores-world-for-first-time/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Adorable baby koala explores world for first time</strong></em></span></a></p>

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