Resident Koala (Soon to be on Exhibit)
In September 2020, the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital was surprised to receive a call about a koala found right in the middle of the township of Wauchope, which is located 20 kilometers west of Port Macquarie.
This is a puzzle because historical records have shown that koalas have not been seen in the Wauchope township for the last 80 or more years! While there are small populations of koalas that occupy scattered habitat to the north, west and south of the town some distance away. Within Wauchope itself there are only a handful of koala food trees - not enough to sustain even one koala.
We are grateful to the very kind resident who did spot this koala sitting on a dead tree stump one Sunday afternoon right in the centre of town. Knowing koalas in Wauchope is a rarity, he captured her and put her in his chook house (called Cluckingham Palace by the way!) for safety, while he contacted the Koala Hospital.
Jade is a young and healthy female koala but as we currently cannot determine her point of origin she is unable to be released. It is at times like this, that we wish koalas could speak!
