Cuddly TOY koala helps keepers at Longleat weigh newest arrival
Stuffed toy helps ease stress on baby joey
Last updated 30th Mar 2022
Keepers at Wiltshire's safari park are using a cuddly toy koala to help weigh their baby joey. The seven-month-old female marsupial is the first ever southern koala to have been born in Europe.
Weight is a key indicator of a koala’s health and each individual animal has to be weighed weekly to ensure they’re in top condition. In order to make the process as stress free as possible, keepers at Longleat have added a soft toy koala to the weighing basket.
“Koalas’ diet consists entirely of eucalyptus leaves so keeping a close eye on their weight helps us make sure they are eating enough, and their digestive systems are in order,” said keeper Jon Ovens.
“As well as helping us to monitor her condition, the weekly weigh-in also helps her to get used to our presence and allows us to give her an overall health check.”
Koalas give birth after around a month-long pregnancy. The joey is born blind and hairless and about the same size as a jellybean. Within minutes, the tiny baby is able to find its way into its mother’s pouch.
As it continues to grow and develop, the joey will leave the pouch and explore. However, it will remain largely dependent on its mum Violet until it is up to a year old.
At Longleat the koalas’ purpose-built enclosure includes a natural stream, eucalyptus trees, climbing poles, a mix of indoor and outdoor habitats, viewing areas, and a medical care unit.
A plantation of eucalyptus trees has also been established on the estate to provide the koalas with a regular supply of leaves, the only thing the marsupials will eat.
The facility is part of a ground-breaking joint initiative with the Government of South Australia, Cleland Wildlife Park and Longleat to support research and raise funds for koala management and conservation.
In the aftermath of the bushfires, keepers from Koala Creek travelled out to South Australia to help with the recovery programme and in 2020 Longleat donated over £50,000 to support koala conservation and recovery programmes.