Koalas & Conservation: Member Jungle At Port Stephens Sanctuary
Discover the crucial work of the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary, a dedicated koala hospital and conservation hub, as explored during a recent visit. Learn surprising koala facts, from their unique diet to their amazing adaptations. The article highlights the importance of supporting koala conservation efforts through visits, sponsorship, or direct donations to this vital animal sanctuary.
Did you know that the amount of eucalyptus leaves a koala eats in a day would be toxic to an adult human? Eucalyptus leaves contain eucalyptus oil, which is toxic, and every day, an adult koala consumes enough leaves to give them a dose of eucalyptus oil that would be fatal for humans.
However, koalas are one of only three animals that have evolved to live on these poisonous, fibrous, and extremely low-nutrition leaves. Due to this specialised diet, koalas have a very slow metabolic rate and sleep 18 to 22 hours a day.
I learned this during my recent visit to the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary. Member Jungle has been sponsoring koalas at the sanctuary for several years, and I decided it was time for me to experience the sanctuary firsthand. So, I hopped in the car and headed on down to the Sanctuary.
Koala Fun Fact 1: Amazing Hands
Koalas possess two opposable digits on each of their forelimbs, which effectively gives them two thumbs on each hand. This adaptation not only aids in climbing but is also particularly beneficial for fine motor control, an essential skill for plucking and eating leaves.
Koalas also have unique fingerprints, just like humans. These fingerprints are so similar to humans that koala prints can be mistaken for human fingerprints even by forensic experts.
What Does The Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary Do?
Let’s make one thing clear: this is not in any way sponsored content. Member Jungle adopts and sponsors some koalas at the sanctuary, so I thought I’d go along. Now, having seen their incredible work, I figured I'd share some fascinating koala facts and give a shout-out to the Sanctuary, hoping it inspires more people to visit or donate online.
The Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary is a koala sanctuary and hospital located in One Mile in the Port Stephens region, just North of Newcastle.
They do an immense amount of vital work for koalas. Injured koalas are brought into their hospital for treatment, and once they've recovered sufficiently, they are released back into the wild. However, some koalas are deemed unable to return to the wild, usually due to lasting injuries; these koalas then get to spend the rest of their lives living safely and comfortably within the sanctuary itself.
The sanctuary also welcomes visitors. Guests can take tours, attend informative talks about koalas, and even book unique overnight stays in glamping tents or hotel rooms. A percentage of all funds goes directly towards caring for and housing the koalas.
The sanctuary itself makes for a fun and worthwhile trip. It's a short, pleasant walk along paths winding through lovely bushland, dotted with koala statues, Australian native stingless bee hives, and plenty of fascinating koala facts to check out. You can stop by the hospital's viewing window to peek in on any koalas currently undergoing treatment. Finally, you can take the skywalk up to see the permanent resident koalas. It was here that I took this photo of the snuggliest koala I have ever seen.
Just look at him! All snuggled up in a tree fork; worth the price of admission alone.
This isn't a zoo, it isn't an all-day activity; I probably only spent about 30 minutes there. I had a nice walk, looked at some koalas, grabbed a coffee, and then continued on my way to the beach. It was a lovely way to spend some time and support this great organisation. I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone in the area.
While there, I was even able to spot one of the koalas that Member Jungle sponsors, Basil.
Koala Fun Fact 2: Smooth Brains
Koalas have disproportionately small, smooth brains; this is likely an adaptation to their extremely low-nutrient diet. Unlike most mammals, their brains also do not take up the entire cranial cavity, which is quite likely in order to protect them if they fall out of trees.
This small, smooth brain means that koalas aren’t the sharpest crayons in the drawer. For example, if you pluck eucalyptus leaves off the branch, they will no longer be able to recognise them as food. It’s about the equivalent of a human looking at one pile of spaghetti and another pile of meatballs and saying, “I cannot possibly imagine that being of use to me,”.
So they may be a little simple, but that doesn’t stop them from being adorable.
How You Can Support The Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary
It is an unfortunate fact that koalas are at serious risk today from habitat loss, invasive species, diseases, climate change, and, of course, the number one threat to pretty much everything on the planet, humans. The Australian Koala Foundation estimates that there are fewer than 60,000 koalas left in Australia. For these reasons, it is more important now than ever to do whatever we can to help support these amazing little weirdos.
The most straightforward way to support the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary and koalas is to visit the sanctuary, whether it’s a day trip or an overnight stay. This is a great way to get to see the koalas and support them.
Beyond that, you can do what Member Jungle does and sponsor koalas so that they can continue to get the treatment and housing they so desperately need. You can also just make recurring or one-off donations to the sanctuary. Both of which are really easy ways to support the koalas, even if you’re nowhere near the Port Stephens area.
Another great way to support the sanctuary is to buy things from the online store. They sell hats, calendars, kids’ books, soft toys, and much more, all of which can be purchased online and shipped to your door. I have previously bought one of their calendars via the online store, and it was a really great quality calendar that I would fully recommend.
There are a lot more ways you can support the koalas, which can be found on the websites for:
Koala Fun Fact 3: Koala Diplomacy
Much like China’s Panda Diplomacy, Koala Diplomacy is a form of soft power diplomacy where the Australian government utilises koala meet-and-greets with politicians and lends koalas to zoos around the world.
The list of world leaders who have had their photos taken with koalas is honestly astounding.
Yes, that is Pope John Paul II, Mikhail Gorbachev, and Barack Obama with Koalas.
Honestly, that’s about all I have to say about the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary; really great cause and well worth supporting and visiting.
If you want to know more about how Member Jungle does its bit for the environment, check out Green Membership Management: Help Your Club, Help The Planet.
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