COLUMBIA, S.C. — Thousands of koalas have perished amid the devastating brushfires as they continue to destroy Australia. People all over the world are looking for ways to help.
Riverbanks Zoo is helping replenish the koala population as it's one of 10 Association of Zoos and Aquariums programs in the country to house and breed kolas. Their koala, Lottie, was a gift from Queensland Australia as a part of their sister-state partnership. She was two-years-old when she came to the Midlands and has flourished ever since.
"That actually came at a very good time as part of a boost to the population here in North America," says Director of Animal Care and Welfare John Davis. "These animals here at Riverbanks, they serve as ambassadors to their wild counter parts."
Lottie is now 18-years-old and has given birth to 11 joeys through their breeding program. She has 14 grand-joeys, six great grand-joeys, and one great-great grand joey.
Catherine Connell is the Senior Keeper of the Cat and Bear Department at the Riverbanks Zoo. She works closely with Lottie.
"She's been an amazing mom here and a good representative of the population in the United States," she says.
Lottie's last joey, Charlotte, is two and a half years old. She lives in the enclosure next to her mother's. Charlotte is next in line to breed as her mother has retired.
"Charlotte will continue that legacy." Davis says. "We are expecting for the Species Survival Plan, that's the captive breeding program that manages koalas in human care. They'll be identifying a male for us in hopefully in 2020 to be paired with Charlotte and continue the process."
The Zoo is now working on other ways to help those animals devastated by the fires through education and awareness. Connell says the marsupial's only eat eucalyptus, which is being overtaken as the flames ravage their habitat.
"If all their trees are burned down then they're just running around searching for food and not able to find any and that's why there is such devastation cause they're loosing what they need to survive," she adds.
Connell and Davis both noted that even when the fires stop, Australia's wildlife will have years of recovery ahead.
"When the fire goes out, it may not be over and probably won't. There will still be a lot of recovery efforts that are needed," says Davis. "Riverbanks along with other accredited zoos are rallying together to see where they can make a difference."
The Riverbanks Zoo is encouraging those who want to help to donate to Zoo Victoria's Emergency Wildlife Fund to aid in the rescue and rehabilitation of harmed wildlife in Australia.