WildArk has partnered with NUII and Connoisseur to support Currumbin Wildlife Hospital’s Tree to Me program, helping secure a reliable supply of fresh eucalyptus leaves for sick and injured koalas.
As part of the collaboration, NUII has donated $20,000 to fund the planting of 1,300 eucalyptus trees in the Hospital’s koala fodder plantations.
Currumbin Wildlife Hospital admits, treats and rehabilitates around 400 koalas each year. A single koala can eat leaves harvested from up to 1,000 gum trees annually, creating an enormous ongoing demand for fresh, nutritious eucalyptus.
Recovering koalas can also be particularly selective about what they eat. The Hospital’s gum cutters and veterinary nurses provide several varieties of freshly harvested eucalyptus each day to meet the individual dietary needs of each patient.
The Hospital’s fodder plantations currently contain approximately 38,000 eucalyptus trees. Because the trees are continually harvested, they have a limited lifespan and must be regularly replenished. The Tree to Me program helps ensure this essential food source remains available for koalas throughout their treatment and recovery.
“Planting trees may sound like a simple act, but for the koalas being cared for at Currumbin Wildlife Hospital, they are an essential part of recovery,” said Kirstin Scholtz, General Manager of WildArk.
“This partnership is a wonderful example of brands supporting a practical conservation need with a clear and lasting impact. Together with NUII and Connoisseur, we are helping the Hospital continue providing the specialised care these vulnerable animals need.”
The initiative forms part of WildArk’s ongoing work connecting its brand partners with meaningful conservation projects that deliver tangible outcomes for wildlife.
Currumbin Wildlife Hospital provides its services free of charge and treats more than 16,000 sick, injured and orphaned native animals each year.
