Archer the koala’s beautiful bromance with Featherdale’s Chad Staples

FOR the devoted animal keepers at Featherdale Wildlife Park, Christmas morning begins with breakfast after taking care of their furred, feathered and fin families. And for Chad Staples, that is Archer the koala.

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FOR the devoted animal keepers at Featherdale Wildlife Park, Christmas morning begins with breakfast after taking care of their furred, feathered and fin families.

“The animals still need their Christmas lunch like everyone else,’’ said Featherdale’s director of life sciences Chad Staples, who admitted he needed to check in with his special mate, Archer the koala.

Chad Staples will catch up with Archer at Featherdale Wildlife Park on Christmas Day. Picture: Justin Sanson

“We have a barbecue breakfast together and we are looking after all the animals before we go home to see our other families,” he said. “But I need to get my special Archer kisses and cuddles on Christmas Day.’’

The bromance between Archer and Featherdale’s chief zookeeper began three years ago when the tiny joey was handraised by Mr Staples. Today the bachelor koala remains devoted to his human best mate.

Featherdale Wildlife Park's director of Life Science's Chad Staples with Archer the koala. Picture: Featherdale Wildlife Park.

But Mr Staples hopes Archer will soon shake his single status and “have many, many girlfriends’’.

“He is a very special koala,’’ Mr Staples said.

“He does live TV, he has been on American breakfast TV, he was voted the cutest animal in NSW and he is very popular with visitors. He knows how good he is.’’

Last week, as temperatures soared to 41C, the animals at Featherdale enjoyed special enrichment treats of frozen fruit and blood — known as fruitsicles and bloodsicles.

Penguins cool off in their pool at Featherdale Wildlife Park. Picture: Justin Sanson

Follow Archer’s adventures on his popular Facebook page: Archer the Koala