PORT MACQUARIE LAUNCHES WILD KOALA BREEDING PROGRAM

The Port Macquarie Koala Hospital has joined forces with Taronga Zoo Conservation Society, Australian Museum and University of Sydney to launch the world’s first wild koala breeding program.

The goal is to have up to 60 breeding koalas, which will be sourced initially from the NSW mid north coast with the aim of releasing selected offspring into specific areas within the region. The program will follow best practice guidelines for breeding healthy disease-free koalas stipulated by the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment and Department of Primary Industries.

Director of the Koala Breeding and Research Program, Cheyne Flanagan, said, “The first three years of this breeding program will be undertaken as a pilot study.The data from this will be made available for other groups to use in setting up their own breeding programs.”

The breeding facility will be funded by public donations made during the 2019/20 bushfires and built on land owned by Forestry Corporation NSW (FCNSW).

To learn more on the ABC, click here.

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