Latest News

Back to Latest News back

 

Name selected for The Australian Reptile Park koala joey following thousands of entries

Name selected for The Australian Reptile Park koala joey following thousands of entries
January 10, 2019

A name has finally been selected for The Australian Reptile Park’s most beloved koala joey.

After a long search between thousands of entries - with people commenting on the video, messaged the Facebook page, emailed the Park and even called in with their suggestions - the koala has been named 'Gumnut'.

After Gumnut’s mother was unable to provide milk and nutrition for the joey, Keeper Hayley took on the task of raising Gumnut and giving him a second chance at life. He has since been embraced all over the world, with people from all different countries taking their chance to name the koala. Other options included Mr Fluffy, Jeeves, Loki and Banjo.

Acting as a true sign of hope, the koala joey will act as an ambassador for the koala species and Australia’s native wildlife. With over 40 mammals that have become extinct, Australia is an incredibly important region as so many of the species found on the island continent are found nowhere else in the world.

At the current rate of decline, koalas are on track to become completely extinct by 2050. Koala numbers have plummeted by a third in the 20 years between 1990 and 2010 due to habitat destruction, deforestation, fragmentation, cars and dogs. The Australian Reptile Park has a population of over 35 koalas and is expanding with plans to move into a koala conservation project in the coming years that specifically assists the wild population. With the Park continually breaking records of their breeding numbers year on year, they will not stop until more is done to protect the iconic species.

Reptile Park General Manager Tim Faulkner stated “the Australian Reptile Park is tremendously thankful for all of the wonderful entries people sent in, and how they have embraced little Gumnut.

“Raising awareness for koalas is so imperative to us as their numbers are drastically declining. Australia has the worst mammal extinction rate on the planet and we need to do what we can to change this.

“Hopefully those who looked on affectionately to little Gumnut will take the time to look into some wonderful koala conservation facilities and pledge to help them."

Gumnut’s adoptive mother, Keeper Hayley Shute added “picking the name Gumnut was an easy decision, we all knew as soon as we saw it, that it fit perfectly. He is such an adorable little ball of fun and is now just becoming more curious with the world around him.

"I can’t wait to watch him grow up and eventually move into the koala enclosure with all our other koalas."

Related Articles

29th December 2018 - Animals kept cool at The Australian Reptile Park

23rd December 2018 - Australian Reptile Park welcomes Dundee the Eastern Grey Kangaroo as their Christmas Miracle

20th November 2018 - Kangaroo Island Joey takes centre stage at the Australian Reptile Park

7th July 2018 - Australian Reptile Park welcomes record koala breeding season

26th June 2015 - NSW koala conservation area threatened with logging

30th April 2012 - Koalas to be listed as threatened amid rapid decline

28th September 2011 - Koala inquiry calls for vulnerable status


Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.

 

supplier directory

The Complete Guide to Leisure Industry Products & Services.

See the directory see all

Intelligenz Solutions

Intelligenz provides Leisure Management Software for managing all your Program Registrations, Facility Bookings, Membership Sales and POS Transactions; including detailed Reporting, automated…

read more

Access / Billing / Finance / Marketing / Technology

 
 

Hadley/Series Australia Pty Ltd

Hadley Australia and Series Australia Pty Ltd are the leading quality theatre chair manufacturers in the southern hemisphere. The businesses work closely with architects, interior designers and…

read more

Arts / Culture / Design / Entertainment / Venues

 
 

XBODY Australia Pty Ltd

PROVEN BUSINESS CONCEPTS WITH XBODY XBody’s goal is to see you and your EMS business succeed. That is why we don’t just sell equipment, we provide know-how, expert knowledge, business support…

read more

Fitness / Technology / Wellness

 
 

Parkequip

Parkequip is an approved supplier under the NSW LGP Contract 308 for a range of products including play equipment, shade, shelters, safe fall, park furniture and school outdoor seating. All materials…

read more

Fitness / Parks / Play / Recreation / Surfaces

 
 

HRMWEB

At easyemployer we've come up with a software solution that manages one of your most important, and often most costly, business resources - your staff. We are helping 100s of clients to…

read more

Finance / Fitness / Technology

 
 

TicketSearch Pty Ltd

TicketSearch is focused on providing businesses, organisations, and venues with affordable, efficient, and powerful self-managed ticketing solutions. The organisation has offices in Australia, New…

read more

Attractions / Entertainment / Technology / Ticketing / Venues

 
 

GREENEDESK

Track. Engage. Retain GreeneDesk is a suite of cloud based software solutions helping health clubs, leisure centres and swim schools to effectively track progression, improve customer engagement and…

read more

Aquatics / Billing / Education / Fitness / Technology

 
 

Links Modular Solutions

Links Modular Solutions was a leading provider of high-quality, innovative software solutions for aquatic and recreation facilities. Links Modular Solutions is now part of Xplor Technologies.

read more

Access / Billing / Finance / Fitness / Technology

 
 
 
 

get listed with our suppliers directory

Get your business noticed in our targeted directory. Viewed by 10,000 industry professionals per week!

list your business