Tuesday, June 2, 2015

PLACES OF INTEREST IN AND AROUND PERTH No 6

COHUNU KOALA PARK

Cohunu Koala Park is a wildlife sanctuary on 14 ha (35 acres) of bushland in Byford, near Perth, Western Australia.

The park and its koala colony were established in 1982 at Mills Park Road in Gosnells, with four koalas from South Australia.  In 2005 the park was moved to Nettleton Road in Byford. The koala colony now has over 25 koalas.


Between 10am and 4pm daily, at an additional charge, visitors to the park may be photographed cuddling a koala.  Visitors are also permitted to touch and hand feed various other park animals.


A miniature railway built by volunteers runs around the park, operating on most weekends and public holidays.

I've not been to Cohunu since it moved from Gosnells so another item added to my 'to do' list.  The weather has cooled somewhat so am hoping to get out and about a little more.


10 comments:

  1. Love koalas. There are some old photos of my brothers cuddling them not long after they arrived in Oz. Over fifty years ago, and they all still remember it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Koalas are lovely creatures and I imagine once you have held one you would always remember. I have photos of our #2 granddaughter with a koala when we went to the original Cohunu Park.

      Delete
  2. Hari OM
    Oh my word; another memory flashback!!! I went there with the folks back in 1997. Had a lot of mixed feelings; loved being in among all the deer and roos and such... but there was a slight sadness at this too. Wonder if the new place is a bit more in line with modern thinking on the keeping of captive animals? I've still got the fridge magnet &*> YAM xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I remember our visit to the old Cohunu and I imagine the new one would be much more modern in its handling of our wildlife.
      Now I am determined to pay a visit and check it out for myself.
      Aren't fridge magnets a wonderful in retaining memories? xx

      Delete
  3. I've never been to the Cohunu Koala Park so that's another place to go on my bucket list. However, I'm with Yam in that the Park owners need to update their knowledge of Koalas. Research shows that Koalas get very stressed when handled by humans. Also it upsets their fragile metabolism. I know that wildlife parks have to raise money to keep going but why do the animals have to suffer for the delight of mere people in the process? I wish they would find a better way and educate the public at the same time.

    OK, I'll get down off my high horse now and stop spitting chips. Thank you for the review of the park, Mimsie.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Seems it would be well worth paying a visit and I would imagine with more modern knowledge things would be done differently now. I don't think people are allowed to hold the koalas up at Yanchep. I hope these at Cohunu don't suffer as a result of their contact with humans.
      Do let me know if you make it Byford won't you.

      Delete
  4. I love koalas! Thank you for this. It looks like a lovely place, I hope you get to visit. Maybe even hold a koala :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I enjoyed the original visit to the original park and I am definitely going to try to get to this new one. I actually saw a wombat last time, well at least I saw its rear end disappearing down a tunnel!!
      Not sure about holding a koala but definitely love to look at them.

      Delete
  5. hope you get out soon and enjoy the cooler weather.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thank you. Will do my best.....just have to rely on my dear husband to drive me as I don't get around very well on my own. Fortunately he is very patient and also enjoys going out and about.

    ReplyDelete