Australian Family Care for Koala Joey in Lockdown

Posted By : The Animal Facts Editorial Team

Date: September 2, 2021 1:45 pm

Trixie the koala joey is being cared for after her rescue

Photo Credit: Australian Reptile Park

Home schooling has been a bit more interesting for two boys in Australia as they help their father, Australian Reptile Park Director Tim Faulkner, care for a koala joey which was rescued from its mother. Named Trixie by the two boys the tiny joey is being cared for by Faulkner when he is working from home.

Trixie was rescued by keepers at the Australian Reptile Park in July 2021. After her mother fell ill keepers immediately rescued the helpless joey.

Mr Faulkner stepped in to serve as a surrogate parent for the joey and to provide round-the-clock care to the joey.

Tim Faulkner (center) with sons Billy (left) and Matty (right) are caring for Trixie the koala joey while New South Wales is in lockdown due to Covid-19

Photo Credit: Australian Reptile Park

The new joey has made working from home with NSW in lockdown more interesting. He has been fitting in feeding for the joey every four hours between zoom meetings and online learning for sons Billy (11) and Matty (9).

Tim said, “Now that they’re (Billy and Matty) at the age where they can start developing those animal care skills, it’s been an absolute joy to get them really hands-on with caring for Pixie. The boys love helping me with preparing her bottle, feeding her and the all-important weigh-ins to make sure she’s gaining weight every day. She’s doing so well; she’s even started to try eucalyptus leaf for the first time!”

“Pixie is the sweetest koala joey I’ve ever had the pleasure of raising. She just wants to be involved in everything we do at home – she’s so inquisitive! She loves to sit with the kids when they’re doing their homework or passing the time with a puzzle. The boys absolutely adore her,” Tim continued.

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Pixie the koala joey was born at the Australian Reptile Park this year as part of their successful breeding program for this iconic Australian species. Over the past years these animals have seen a population decline and the Black Summer bushfires further added to this loss.

Tim, who is also President of conservation organisation, Aussie Ark, emphasised, “If we don’t start dramatic intervention now, koalas could be extinct in the wild in less than 30 years! Australia has the worst mammal extinction rate in the world, we need as many programs like our koala breeding program as possible to save our Aussie wildlife!”

Tim Faulkner (right) with sons Billy (center) and Matty (left) are caring for Trixie the koala joey while New South Wales is in lockdown due to Covid-19

Photo Credit: Australian Reptile Park

Once she is an adult Pixie will make her return to the Australian Reptile Park and move in with the other joeys in “koala preschool.”

“In a couple of years, little Pixie will join the breeding program and become a mother herself. She’s the future of her species, alongside the five other koala joeys born during our 2021 breeding season!” Tim concluded.

Tim Faulkner (back) with sons Billy (front) and Matty (center) are caring for Trixie the koala joey while New South Wales is in lockdown due to Covid-19

Photo Credit: Australian Reptile Park

Learn more about Koalas here – Koala Fact File | The Animal Facts

Learn more about the Australian Reptile Park on their website – Australian Reptile Park