Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

Date opened	1927
Location	Fig Tree Pocket, Queensland, Australia
Land area	18 ha (44 acres)
Coordinates	27°31′58.56″S 152°58′9.47″E / 27.5329333°S 152.9692972°E / -27.5329333; 152.9692972 (Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary)

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is an 18-hectare (44-acre) koala sanctuary in the Brisbane suburb of Fig Tree Pocket in Queensland, Australia.

Founded in 1927, it is the oldest and largest koala sanctuary of its kind in the world. The park houses approximately 80 species of Australian animals.

History

The name originates from a lone hoop pine that was planted by the Clarkson family, the first owners of the 4.6-hectare (11-acre) site. The sanctuary opened in 1927 to provide a safe refuge to sick, injured, and orphaned koalas, at a time when they were being killed for their fur. The founder of the sanctuary, Claude Reid, recognised the need to protect this iconic species and initiated the protection of their habitat.

The sanctuary began with two koalas called Jack and Jill. Lone Pine became known internationally during World War II when Americans, including Douglas MacArthur's wife, visited the park to view the native Australian animals.

Wildlife

Visitors are allowed to hold koalas for a fee. Strict regulations ensure that each koala is not held for more than thirty minutes every day. Fees paid for souvenir photos help fund new enclosures, research projects and eucalyptus plantations.

Visitors can feed and pet the free-roaming kangaroos in the 5-acre (2.0 ha) kangaroo reserve, where more than 130 of the animals freely reside.

Rainbow lorikeets fly to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary for the specially prepared nectar meals at the sanctuary. Visitors can feed the lorikeets directly twice a day. Once a day there is a bird of prey show with several kinds of raptors showing off their speed, agility and keen eyesight.

The "Koala Forest" is a large koala enclosure with over 30 koalas surrounding the customers. The koalas are fed mid-morning and mid-afternoon.

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary opened their new koala science and research facility, the Brisbane Koala Science Institute, on Saturday 30 June 2018. Constructed in collaboration with the Brisbane City Council, the facility is home to two full-time research staff, a research laboratory, and a "Koala Biobank" (koala genetic depository). Lone Pine hopes to improve collaboration within the science community through the use of the Institute's meeting spaces and seminar hall. Lone Pine visitors will be able to view the Institute daily from 9am-5pm, via the public viewing area.

Transport

There is an entrance to the sanctuary from a car park, and also an entrance to the sanctuary from the Brisbane River. One can arrive by private car or taxi, a journey of approximately 20 minutes from the city centre. One can also catch a Transport for Brisbane bus, or arrive by express boat from the Queensland Cultural Centre pontoon.

Photos

Awards

In 2009 as part of the Q150 celebrations, the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary was announced as one of the Q150 Icons of Queensland for its role as a "location".

See also

In Spanish: Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary para niños

• Australian Koala Foundation
• Marsupial
• Koala Park Sanctuary, Sydney
• Koala Farm, Adelaide
• Koala conservation § Introductions