Brisbane. Maximus is a pretty impressive koala. The boy weighs ten kilos, unusually high for his species - the name says it all. In addition, at 18 years old, he has reached a biblical age for Australian marsupials. With big ears, button eyes and thick fur, he almost looks like a plush toy. But behind the cute facade there is a fascinating animal species.
Maximus lives with around 100 fellow koalas in the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, the oldest koala sanctuary in the world. The facility was founded in Brisbane in 1927 - next year it will celebrate its 100th anniversary. It is even in the Guinness Book of Records.
Between eucalyptus trees and visitor paths, the employees don't just look after the animals in their care. It's a much bigger question: How can koalas survive long-term despite growing threats? World Animal Protection Day (October 4th) is therefore also about this iconic species, which is not only threatened by the loss of its habitat but also by a dangerous infectious disease.
“We are very worried that koalas could become extinct,” says chief veterinarian Galit Tzipori. She has worked as a veterinarian at the sanctuary for 28 years, and before that she was a koala keeper for six years. When she talks about her protégés, amazing facts come to light.
First of all: Behind every single copy there is a very unique personality. “They are so different,” enthuses Tzipori. Some are cheeky, others are very gentle. A female koala named Tabby wants to “talk” all the time, Akane is an excellent mother and Esmeralda is quite cheeky.
And then there is “Grandpa” Maximus, her darling who has poor eyesight and cataracts in one eye. “He’s an extremely nice, good-natured guy,” smiles Tzipori. But the koala Methuselah still can't avoid the annual dental check.
Koalas spend up to 20 hours a day resting. But that's part of their survival strategy. They almost only eat eucalyptus leaves, which provide little energy and contain plant fibers that are difficult to digest. So save on movements where possible. “People often think they are slow and stupid,” says Tzipori. Both are not true. Koalas are fascinating creatures and can sprint up to 30 kilometers per hour. In addition, their hearing and sense of smell are particularly well developed.
And the offspring? Koala babies are born tiny and completely underdeveloped. They spend six months in the pouch before gradually exploring the world. But before they can digest eucalyptus leaves, they need a jump start: their mother's feces. The slimy “pap” contains important microorganisms for the intestines. The young animal consumes it several times before it can switch to leafy food.
There are more than 700 species of eucalyptus. “In general, a koala only feeds on the species that occur in its respective area - which is usually no more than ten,” explains Tzipori. For example, a koala from Queensland cannot simply be released somewhere else in Australia after a bushfire. “They can adapt, but it takes time.”
Their living space is also shrinking. Forests are being cleared and cut up. Roads, dogs, heat and bushfires become dangerous. Populations in Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory have been considered critically endangered since 2022.
The Australian Koala Foundation estimates the number of wild specimens to be a maximum of 63,600, but it may be much lower, the website says. The experts are calling for koalas to be classified as “threatened with extinction” in some areas. “There is currently no legislation anywhere in the country that can protect koalas and their habitat in Australia,” it said.
Also devastating is a disease that usually has no symptoms in humans, but can be fatal for koalas: chlamydia. The bacteria can affect the eyes and urinary tract, cause blindness and make females infertile. In the wild, the infection is one of the biggest threats - the koalas in Lone Pine, however, are chlamydia-free. But they can still help find solutions for their wild counterparts.
The center has been working with universities on a vaccine for around 25 years. In Lone Pine, various vaccines were tested and further developed. The first protection and vaccination programs for wild koalas are now underway. For Tzipori, that's exactly the role zoos can play today: not just to show animals, but to help protect their relatives outside.
Even in the oldest koala sanctuary, something has changed in recent years. Visitors have no longer been allowed to hold koalas in their arms since 2024. However, you can book a “Koala Moment” with a keeper, ask questions and observe a specimen up close. Important: When an animal shows that it has had enough, the encounter ends.
“We want to impart knowledge and promote appreciation for the animals - and not just offer an Instagram moment,” says Tzipori. Perhaps this is the most important lesson: koalas are very cute, but they are not cuddly toys. They will continue to need protection and eucalyptus forests in which they can live undisturbed.
