Wildlife Victoria - call them if you see a Koala in distress

Wildlife Victoria is a volunteer based organisation that's has been running wildlife rescue and rehabilitation in Victoria since 1989. With its band of volunteers it provides a 24 hour, 7 day a week wildlife rescue and information service. Many Koalas and Koala joeys owe their lives to the volunteers who've looked after them when they were found with injuries often caused by humans - from cars, tree felling, land clearing, pollution, bushfires or oil spills. If you see a distressed or injured wild animal call them on - WILDLIFE VICTORIA PHONE NUMBER – 24 HOUR EMERGENCY
13 000 94535

4 things you may not know about Koalas

1. Koalas have minimal energy needs because they have evolved the smallest relative brain size of any mammal. The Koala’s brain is so small that it doesn’t even fill its skull cavity.
2. The tough leathery eucalypt leaves that Koalas eat appreared in Australia about 30 million years ago. Although Koalas often denude entire tree areas some of the eucalypts can protect themselves against this. The Manna gum (Eucalyptus viminalsi) is one of the Koala’s favourite food and its youngest and smallest leaves are full of prussic acid which deters the Koalas from eating these and stripping the tree.
3. It’s widely believed that Koalas eat nothing but eucalypt leaves. However they do also occassionally eat soil for the trace minerals it holds. Unfortunately soil can cause them the serious fungal disease that so many of them are suffering from now.
4. In most areas of Australia Koalas are difficult to spot as they sit high up snuggled against eucalypt branches. Indiginous people would often spot Koalas by looking for their shadows against thin eucalyptus leaves which turn the narrow edge to the sun so that less moisture is lost. But come to Otway Coast and you won't have any trouble seeing Koalas in all our townships - Wye River, Separation Creek, Kennett River and Grey River. Have fun.

Otway coast Great Ocean Road

What else can you do when you come to Otway Coast to see Koalas? There are so many wonderful beaches, walks, forest, waterfalls its hard to know where to start. Then there are all the cafes and restaurants, pubs etc to hang out. For a full run down of things to see and do at any time of the year go to the Otway Coast Tourism website.

Koala conservation - are Koala numbers declining?

According to the Australian Koala Foundation our Koala numbers are declining because we are cutting down more and more trees that Koalas need to survive. In Wye River on the Great Ocean Road however our numbers are increasing rapidly. (In this pic we see our regular Koala visitor at Treetops Holiday house.)

The volunteer Koala counters that do a survey in our area every year have reported a ten fold increase in Koala population in the last 7 years which is wonderful for us and our tourist visitors.