Whitsunday Koala colony needs your help

If your home is among the gum trees, then listen up.

A native Australian marsupial colony which lives on one of the Whitsunday’s islands is  desperately seeking help from local landowners after last year’s cyclone devastated their only food source.

Wildlife Hamilton Island has 11 koalas, two of which are far too young to venture out of the pouch, and for the better part of 30 years, the wildlife park has been self-sustainable, easily growing enough of the eucalypt variety to feed the small colony.

But when Cyclone Yasi hit almost one year ago to the day, followed by the deluge of the wet season, some of the best trees on the island were killed.

A koala and gumleaf expert will be on the mainland for the next week or so hoping to hear from locals who might have the right type of tree in their back yard.

Park manager Bronwyn Clemenston, who's been working with native Australian animals for over 12 years, said they desperately needed help to sustain their cuddly little family.

“First cyclone Ului hit, and although it was tough for a while … it was a blessing because the new regrowth was perfect for our koalas. But then Yasi came and the stress along with the years of drought prior to Ului then the massive wet we received last year has set a fungus through mainly the Eucalyptus species on the island and killed some of our best cutting trees,” she said.

Ms Clemenston says while koalas may seem like fussy eaters – only eating a certain type of gum – the park was looking for anyone who knows or might even think they have the right species of gum on their property.

“There are actually over 60 varieties they will eat throughout Australia, and where ever they are found along the coastal region to each region they will have up to 7 species they can eat. For our region they browse on (and I say browse, not eat) because they are very particular about what leaves they will eat preferring the young fresh shoots to the older drier leaves,” she said.

“We have hired an ex-employee who left to further motherhood and she harvests leaves for us twice a week which the local council and some private residents have been kind enough to help with on vacant blocks, but we desperately need some more areas to help sustain our cuddly little family.”

If you can help, or if you want further information call Rebecca Barwell on 0439404900 or email her at
bec.duncan@bigpond.com.