Koala sanctuary to stop tourism cuddles

Singers Taylor Swift (in 2009) and Ed Sheeran (in 2012) have previously visited the sanctuary and held koalas

A famous koala sanctuary in Australia has said it will stop offering experiences to hold marsupials.

The Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary released a statement on its website, saying that from 1 July 2024, the park would stop offering 'hold experiences' and instead offer 'close-up' encounters, where people can stroke the koalas whilst they sit in a tree.

“We love that there is a shift among both local and international guests to experience Australian wildlife up close, but not necessarily personal, just doing what they do best - eating, sleeping and relaxing within their own space,” said the Sanctuary's General Manager Lyndon Discombe.

The sanctuary said their decision was in response to feedback from visitors to the park.

The sanctuary says it is now offering close-up encounters where people can pet koalas but not hold them

Animal rights groups have welcomed the news, but some groups think that encounter experiences should be stopped all together.

“The future of wildlife tourism is seeing wild animals in the wild where they belong," said Suzanne Milthorpe of the World Animal Protection (WAP).

“As cute as they are, koalas are still wild animals in captivity and are extremely susceptible to stress,” Oceania director Rebecca Keeble told the BBC.

“Their welfare is paramount and as they are an endangered species we need to do all we can to protect them.”

Koalas are listed as endangered along most of eastern Australia, with some animal groups saying there are as few as 50,000 left in the wild.

Some animal rights groups say there are studies which show that holding encounters stress koalas out - especially as in the wild koalas mostly live on their own and are nocturnal animals who sleep most of the day.

All states in Australia have strict rules to protect koalas, and many of them have already banned "holding" experiences. New South Wales banned it by law in 1997.

But there are places like Queensland, where the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is based, and South and Western Australia where the practice continues.

A government spokesperson has told the BBC there is currently no drive to change this law in Queensland.