New Koala Encounters area

April 2009

How much did it cost to incorporate the changes into the area? What exactly has changed other than those bizarre shaped windows at the back?

Hmm art decor in zoo design is back with a vengeance They're similar to the bull elephants house, I guess it was the same architect.

This IS the finished exhibit?!

I thought it was under construction, when I first saw this picture.

I think so, it looks a bit sterile but they'll only really use the trees anyway.

This is a different part of the zoo to the present koala exhibits. This is in Wild Australia, after the wombat enclosure.

Another sterile Koala enclosure.

Koalas really do miss out when it comes to naturalistic enclosures. Over public viewing!!

The worst l have seen would have to be Beuval. Indoor and really boring.

Does a Koala need/want enrichment. Or are they happy to be stoned?

OK, I should clear up some misconceptions.

Koala Encounters is part of the zoo where the public get to meet a koala up close (for a fee). The animals are rotated through the exhibit, when not being used they will be held in off-display areas. Individuals that don't tolerate the public or stress easily are not used.

At least, that's how it used to be done when there was only one enclosure. Maybe now, with eight enclosures, they might just rotate the public through them, a different enclosure every day.

The location of this complex within the zoo is between the Kangaroo Walkthru' and the Platypus House. This is on the site of the original Koala Encounters which was used until about five years ago.

There is actually a law i seem to remmber. That states how long a koala can be handled and how long it must be rested.

Is Sydney letting the public hold the Koala. Or are they allowing pictures to be taken by zoo staff. standing next to a branch with a koala on it?

Unless it's changed, the NSW law states that the public can't actually hold the Koalas, but they can stand beside them and touch them, or hey can hold a branch the Koala is attached too.

When I worked at Taronga some years ago we went one step further: there was to be no contact at all between the public and the animals.Thery could stand beside the Koala buut not touch it. Don't know if that's still the policy; maybe Zooworker or ZooPro could confirm that?