Koala bears coming to Santa Barbara Zoo

A pair of male koala bears will be on display at the Santa Barbara Zoo beginning April 28. “Edmund” and “Thackory” will be in an outside exhibit near the Zoo’s train station.

The marsupials are part of an exhibit at the Zoo to heighten awareness of conservation issues facing native species from Australia.

“Koalas are iconic animals for Australia, as it’s the only place they are found in the wild,” said Santa Barbara Zoo Animal Health and Care Director Dr. Julie Barnes, who received her veterinary degree in Australia.

“There are major challenges there that threaten koalas and other native animals and plants in Australia,” she said. “Having Edmund and Thackory in Santa Barbara for a year allows our guests not only to appreciate these two little guys, but also to discover the changes affecting their native habitat.”

The koalas will be loaned to the Santa Barbara Zoo by the Los Angeles and San Diego Zoos. Officially, all koalas in U.S. zoos are “on loan” from Australia.

The Santa Barbara Zoo had to make a formal request to the Australian government in order to host the animals. Cost of care and feeding for the koalas is estimated at $2,500 per month.

“Edmund” was born at the LA Zoo in 2015. “Thackory” was born in 2011 at the San Diego Zoo. He has spent time in zoos in Indiana and New England.

“Koalas are solitary by nature, and adult male koalas are very territorial and don’t do well in groups when other males are present. So there are single males that need homes,” Barnes said.

Koalas eat leaves from eucalyptus trees. Their food in Santa Barbara comes from a eucalyptus plantation in Arizona, where it is grown specifically for the animals.

Though koalas appear to be cute and cuddly, the two coming to Santa Barbara were not trained to be held by people, so they can only be viewed at a distance.