Oakvale Farm and Fauna World is celebrating its most successful koala breeding season on record.
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Five of the Salt Ash farm’s six female koalas are currently carrying joeys, which curator Lachlan Gordon said was “exciting”.
“Breeding koalas and making joeys is extremely important for the species,” he said.
Last year none of the koalas successfully mated and in 2015 only two joeys were born.
There has never been five joeys at the one time Mr Gordon said.
He said this year’s breeding strike rate had been “really good”.
Oakvale’s six female koalas were bred with its three males.
Mr Gordon said there was a science behind this year’s breeding success – it did not come down to luck.
During the short window when the females were on heat, five to 10 days every 40 days, the koalas were “teased” with male mating calls and sounds.
Hearing this, the females start to bellow in response.
Bellowing leads to breeding.
Only one female koala, Kinya, did not successfully mate with a male.
Among the pregnancies, three koalas are carrying their first joeys: Lulu, a 5 year old koala, Koda, 3, and Karri, 4.
Lulu’s joey is extra special.
The father, Jay, and Lulu are in the top 20 “genetically important” koalas in Australia.
Their genetics are least utilised for breeding.
For Coco, the farm’s eldest koala, aged 9, this is her third joey.
For Katie, 6, it is her second time.
The joeys are still in their mother’s pouches, but Mr Gordon said they should be showing by Mother’s Day.
Because of this, the farm is hosting a special Mother’s Day weekend.
The We Love Mum Weekend will be held Saturday, May 13 and Sunday, May 14.
Mothers can enjoy half price entry into Oakvale Farm and complimentary Devonshire tea.
There will be many activities to entertain the whole family with such as giveaways, roving wildlife, live entertainment and roaming mascots with treats for children.
Mothers can also enjoy some time at a nail bar, plus there will be random giveaways throughout the day including pamper packs, free scones, tea and tickets to the photo booth for a family snap with one of the koalas or scaly reptiles.
