Koalas that had been evacuated from the encroaching Orroral Valley Bushfire earlier this year have been returned to a refurbished and upgraded display enclosure at Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve.
Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Mick Gentleman welcomed the Koalas to their new home and invited the Canberra community to come out and visit them.
“After being evacuated to the Australian National University (ANU) earlier this year to escape fires and floods, Tidbinbilla’s koalas – Jed, Yellow, Scully, Billa, Gulu and a young, currently unnamed male – have returned to their new and improved public enclosure,” Mr Gentleman said.
“The koalas have a new member joining their family, with the Tidbinbilla wildlife team finding a joey in Yellow’s pouch,” he said.
“We expect the little joey to emerge from the pouch in a few months’ time ready for warmer weather.”
Mr Gentleman said the koalas were returned in good health to Tidbinbilla in late February and had been housed behind the scenes in secluded enclosures while the team refurbished the public display enclosure in the Eucalypt Forest.
“The upgrades include new ‘furniture’ in the form of trees and logs for the koalas to enjoy,” he said.
“There’s also new clear fencing, a viewing platform and seating to better allow visitors to experience these iconic critters.”
Mr Gentleman said the quick response of the Tidbinbilla and ANU teams meant Tidbinbilla’s current koala population was safeguarded from the extreme weather events.
