Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary bans koala cuddles for more immersive experiences

Aussies say a move to ban koala cuddles, an experience embraced by world leaders, sports stars and A-list celebrities like Taylor Swift, as a “load of woke rubbish”. VOTE IN OUR POLL

A Brisbane animal sanctuary has stopped the classic photo opportunity for tourists to cuddle a koala in favour of more immersive experiences with the Australian icon.

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary becomes the first high-profile venue in Queensland to stop the practice of koala holding, which is already banned in several other states.

The ban has sparked a backlash from readers, with some labelling it a “woke” move.

“More woke rubbish,” one reader commented.

“What a load of ... woke,” another commented.

While the move in other states was made largely for animal welfare reasons, research conducted by Griffith University during the pandemic lockdowns showed Queensland koalas in captivity actually became more stressed and depressed when they stopped receiving cuddles and photos with visitors.

Flashback: Celebrities who hugged koalas at Lone Pine Sanctuary

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Lone Pine general manager Lyndon Discombe said the decision was made purely from the feedback of guests, who said they would rather a more immersive encounter with a koalas than a quick cuddle for the camera.

“This wasn’t anything to do with animal welfare, as we’ve always supported the laws around how koala holds are done in Queensland, and our focus has always been on the welfare of the animals anyway,” he said.

“Our guests really want to have more time to make the experience more immersive.

“But we aren’t against any other places that still offer the koala hold as an experience, and it is very heavily legislated in Queensland to ensure the wellbeing of the animals.”

About 25,000 visitors to Lone Pine each year have participated in a koala cuddle opportunity, but those days are now over.

Instead of a cuddle with a koala, guests can pat and feed koalas for a longer period and chat to rangers to learn more about the much-loved marsupial.

Group experiences will offer an even longer encounter with a koala, but without the opportunity to hold them for a photo.

Former president of the Queensland Zoo and Aquarium Association Al Mucci said Lone Pine’s move was the end of an era, but other venues may not necessarily follow suit, as there was evidence to suggest koalas actually enjoyed being handled by guests.

“We saw with the Griffith University research during Covid that the cortisol levels (a measure of stress and discomfort) in the koalas’ fecal matter actually increased when there were no visitors around,” he said.

“It will be interesting to see what happens.”

Cuddling or holding koalas is banned for guests at zoological institutions in NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and the Northern Territory.

Reaction online has so far been mixed, with some praising the sanctuary’s stance, while others said it would result in lost revenue if guests visited different attractions instead.

Originally published as Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary bans koala cuddles for more immersive experiences