Previously the zoo had only two females, however, with the arrival of three adult males all the females are now pregnant.

Information on koalas and our brochure were distributed to the visitors and koala chocs and orphan toys were sold.

It was an enjoyable outing for members and a good promotion of koalas and CQKV

Shirley Hopkins

I was invited to speak at the Rockhampton Zoological and Botanic gardens to introduce the 5 koalas recently acquired in December 2006 from Magnetic Island.

The people were smitten with the joey “Klingon”* who is currently being hand raised and not in captivity and most people were keen to know his mother “Ella”.  Three males were also acquired “Billy”, “Joe” and “Bruiser”.

All five have had 6 months to acclimatise to these new conditions and are fitting in well with 2 existing females Squirt and Caramello who were captive born and bred in Rockhampton ZooIn addition I spoke briefly about my project and some of the interesting koala facts I had come across while researching and also answered some questions from the public. 

My project is in collaboration with CQU, Rockhampton City Council and Fitzroy River Water researching and maximising the production of koala fodder for the zoo, to limit harvesting from the wild and increase foliage productivity in plantation.  The zoo staff budget for approx 1kg fresh foliage per koala per day and they manage a couple of plantations.

I will be investigating the use of recycled water in these plantations.  The recycled water being used contains nutrients that are utilised by trees and there are no toxic elements.  Timber plantations that are irrigated with recycled water are successful, so it is

achievable to find a system that works for the koala plantation and council.

With the existing knowledge that koalas select eucalypt leaves primarily for water and protein.  Koala researchers have observed koalas drinking in the wild and in captivity, but it’s not a regular activity and protein is essential for metabolic requirements.  Eucalypt leaves contain a large variety of compounds some of which are difficult to digest and others can be toxic to koalas but koalas have the ability to detoxify the compounds or regulate the amount of foliage they are consuming.

With the combination of why koalas select foliage and the minor changes that are likely to occur due to recycled water it is likely koala’s consumption of fodder will be similar

After the foliage has been grown; I will spend more time with the captive koalas so they become accustomed to me and provide the foliage to the koalas under their normal zoo feeding routine.  I will then calculate how much was eaten compared with foliage harvested from other sites and foliage irrigated with regular tap water.  During this process I will also become familiar with their behaviour; as most activity and feeding occurs at night I have video cameras set up to assist me and monitor this period of time.

While researching literature about koala feeding behaviour for this project, a study in Brisbane revealed that koalas' hand-eye co-ordination is poor and they use their hand to hold the branch and typically bite the leaf off at the stem near the base of the leaf and the leaf is consumed from the base to the tip.  The koalas they were studying had a preference to hold the branch with their left hand, and that when they scratch they prefer to use their feet over their hands.

Kim Bedwell

*'Clingon' and 'Klingon' are one and the same koala – not sure of exact spelling. (Ed)

Their parents are Murrumbidgee and Murray, two of six koalas sent to China last year by the Gold Coast's Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.

The koalas are the first sent to mainland China and all six have had offspring, but the twins – the odds of which are as high as a million to one – have aroused huge interest.

CQU KOALA DAY – FRIDAY 20^th July

Staff of CQU who had purchased UGLIES wore them celebrating Koala Month on Friday 20^th July.

CQU Bookshop staff, have been enthusiastic in this fundraiser and over 50 UGLIES have been sold for which we are grateful.

CQU Bookshop staff intends to wear their UGLIES again before the end of koala month.

Top (L->R) Berny Cross (Bookshop), Shirley Hopkins (CQ Chief Koala Advocate)
Di Richmond (Bookshop)Bottom (L->R) Leesa Tarlington (Post Office), Emma Springer (Bookshop), Renae Benson (Bookshop) Photo by John Back CQU Bookshop Web Designer

TOP

Report from Dawn

CQ Volunteers were successful in their application for a Small Equipment Grant from the Department of Families, Community Services & Indigenous Affairs. The Items applied for were - two GPS units, two 2 way radios and a number of lidded storage containers. All items applied for were purchased by Alistair Melzer and are ready for use in future field trips.
Dawn Pound

FROM THE TREASURERS DESK

We are committed to spend $10,000 in 2007 to cover $5000 towards Steph Januchowski's PhD candidacy, $4000 to Alistair Melzer to examine the difference between tooth-wear of koalas on the mainland and the islands and $1000 for promotion and education within our community.

Koala Chocs in boxes and this year, golden tins continue to provide funds strongly supported by Supa IGA Glenmore selling our chocs year round.
A new item which will be attractive - caps with our logo
Our old favourite, Carmen Drake's orphan koala toys bring in regular funds as does the investment of our funds.
Congratulations to member Dawn Pound on her initiative to apply for a successful grant of $2146.10 (see below)
I look forward to your continued support

Shirley Hopkins

Bethany's Report

After a long journey I arrived in Rocky on the 19^th June and I then spent a few days in Yeppoon.  I will be in Australia for three months in total.  As part of my environment and conservation biology degree (back in the UK), I am required to carry out a six week placement to develop skills relevant to my course.  So I contacted Alistair and arranged to come out to Rockhampton.

The first couple of weeks involved field work in the Broadsound Shire area, the koala presentation at Rockhampton Zoo and preparing for the St. Bees Island Earth Watch fieldtrip.  The field work in the Broadsound Shire concerned assessment of biodiversity in the several sites that we visited.  I had the job of photographing and recording data.

This is a photo me holding Frontier’s baby after his measurements had been recorded.