Koalas get a new home at Zurich Zoo
With eucalyptus forest
Koalas get a new home at Zurich Zoo
The three koalas at Zurich Zoo have moved into a converted Australia house. Tarni, who came from Duisburg, should provide more youngsters.
The new male koala Tami explains the Australia House at Zurich Zoo.
A few days ago, the koalas were able to explore and move into their newly designed home for the first time, as the Zurich Zoo announced on Wednesday. From Wednesday, the Australia House will also be open to visitors again.
In recent months, the indoor areas of the Australia House have been replanted and additional larger plants have been added. The home of the animals is designed to be even greener and more natural. The panes used, which go right up to the ceiling, support the climatic conditions for the plants in the facility.
The newly planted eucalyptus forest has been created for the koalas. With Tarni, who has lived in Zurich since May 2022, and Uki, who was born here, Zoo Zurich now has two males. The two must be able to live separately because they are territorial by nature and do not tolerate other males.
Female Maisy also lives in the new Australia house. Another female is to increase the stock in the next few months. In exchange, the younger male Uki will then leave Zurich Zoo.
The koala is considered an endangered species in Australia, which makes successful breeding in zoos all the more important. With Uki 2020, Zurich Zoo recorded the first koala birth in Switzerland.
With Pippa, Mikey and Milo, three animals have already died since the koalas moved in in 2018. The Zurich Zoo assumes leukemia as the cause of death, which is said to have been caused by the retrovirus, which is also widespread in the wild.
In addition to the koalas, Exuma whorl-tailed iguanas and the Savu python also live in the house. Zurich Zoo will keep such endangered animals and thereby strengthen species protection.
(SDA)