Taken at Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary Victoria

This female happens to be pregnant and is carrying her joey in her pouch it is about seven months old, so we hope to visit the sanctuary again in about six weeks to see the baby being carried on her back.


Following an Australian Federal Government report released earlier this year the government has increased protection of Koalas in Queensland and New South Wales and will be protected under national environmental law and has determined that Koala areas in Western Victoria and South Australia are relatively densely populated, therefore no protection is necessary.

About the Koala population in Victoria:
Compared to other Australian states Victoria has a large and thriving Koala population.
The Otway Coast is one of the best places to see Koalas in the wild. There are many big colonies in and around the coastal towns, so you are guaranteed close sightings.
French Island which is the largest coastal island of Victoria, has the largest population of Koalas in the wild in Victoria. There are also colonies in South Gippsland on Raymond Island and the Strezlecki Ranges and of course Phillip Island.

Koalas are not considered endangered at this time but the greatest threat is habitat loss due to land clearance. Other major threats are dog attacks road trauma and disease.