KOALAS at Kyabram Fauna Park are set to enjoy a lifetime supply of their favourite snack from a koala ‘food forest’ planted thanks to a partnership between the fauna park and Gargarro Botanic Gardens.
Kyabram Fauna Park general manager, Lachlan Gordon, said the trees planted in September would provide an ongoing food source for the koalas at the park, as well as for wild koalas being looked after by other wildlife carers.
“The food forest is about creating long-term sustainability. We’ll be able to continue to keep our koalas well fed and healthy and provide a supply of tasty, nutritious food for wildlife in care,” Mr Gordon said.
“Koalas prefer some eucalypt species more than others and carers of wild koalas often struggle to locate suitable food sources.
“We hope this eucalypt forest will become a state-wide or even nation-wide resource in times of natural disasters where koalas could be displaced.”
Kyabram Fauna Park and Gargarro Botanic Gardens received $4,000 from the Campaspe Shire Council Community Grants Program in 2020 to establish the food forest.
Volunteers from the Friends of Gargarro group planted the 2,000 eucalypts on three plots of land adjoining the Botanic Gardens, which is in Girgarre, 15km south-west of Kyabram.
Gargarro project convenor, Athol ‘Doc’ McDonald, was enthusiastic about the partnership improving conservation outcomes for a much-loved species.
“We think it’s a great collaboration with another community-run facility within the district,” Mr McDonald said.
Koalas are currently listed as ‘vulnerable’ and their numbers continue to rapidly decline due to disease, habitat destruction, vehicle strikes and dog attacks. The WWF estimate that more than 60,000 were killed or injured during the 2019 bushfires, more than 11,000 in Victoria.
“The food forest also adds some interest to the gardens. We can explain to visitors what it’s all about and I’m sure they’ll think it’s a pretty worthwhile thing to be doing.”’
