Australian Animal Sanctuary Ends Koala Cuddling Amid Animal Welfare Concerns

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane, Australia, known as the world’s first koala sanctuary since its opening in 1927, has announced that it will end its long-standing practice of allowing visitors to cuddle koalas. This change, effective from Monday, comes in response to visitor feedback and growing calls from animal welfare organizations to outlaw the practice entirely.

While it remains legal to hold koalas in Queensland and South Australia, other states with koala populations have stringent regulations in place. For example, in New South Wales, visitors can only pat or gently put an arm around a koala while it stays on a fixed perch, a rule enforced since 1995.

In Queensland, regulations still permit direct handling of koalas, but with strict guidelines to ensure the animals’ well-being. Koalas can only participate in photo sessions for limited durations and require regular breaks. Female koalas with young and those taken from the wild are not used for these interactions.

Despite the current legality, World Animal Protection, an animal welfare group based in London, is urging the Queensland government to ban koala cuddling outright. The organization argues that frequent handling stresses the animals, disrupting their natural behaviors such as sleeping for up to 20 hours a day. They advocate for stricter regulations on captive animals and a shift towards non-intrusive wildlife tourism.

The Queensland government, however, has no plans to change the existing laws. The environment department maintains robust regulations on animal exhibitions and handling, ensuring the welfare of the animals involved.

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