Adopt a Koala
Are you passionate about koala conservation? Or, are you looking for an amazing gift for an animal lover?
Adopt the ultimate fur baby!
Adopting a koala is a fun way to support the crucial conservation work of Friends of the Koala, and help our precious koalas survive.
ADOPT A KOALA TODAY!
OPTION 1
Delivery by email
- $10 per month, or
- $50 for a one-time adoption
OPTION 2
Delivery by post
- $20 per month, or
- $100 for a one-time adoption
CHOOSE YOUR KOALA
CHARLOTTE
CHARLOTTE
I was rescued in January 2018, when I was found alone in the middle of a busy road. I was born with hip dysplasia and have trouble jumping like other koalas, so I am a permanent resident here at Friends of the Koala alongside my BFF Ivy
Gulliver
Gulliver
Found wet, cold, and alone after the northern rivers flood. I was lucky to be rescued and treated at the Koala hospital. I am a true success story and was released back into the wild in August 2022
Waratah
Waratah
I was very young when my sick mum was rescued and admitted to FOK Hospital. Luckily, I was still healthy in her pouch, and I quickly adjusted to the loving care I received by my foster mum in home care. Eight months later, in June 2023 I was big and strong enough to be released back to the wild where I have been sighted since high in the trees.
Wild Koala
WILD KOALA
I am loving life out in the wild! So far I have been able to avoid the common threats to koalas: disease, car hits, dog attacks, natural disasters and other unfortunate injuries and incidents
Dobby
Dobby
At just seven months of age, a member of the public found me in East Coraki. Friends of the Koala team were able to find my mum and reunite us, so that I can grow up naturally and have the best chance of thriving in the wild.
Kookie
Kookie
! was rescued in September 2022 after a truck hit my mum. I am now full time in Koala Kindy and my best friends are Magnus and Rafa. Even though I am the smallest in care, I am usually found at the top of the ladder. Soon I will head off to a plantation, where I can explore the wild
IVY
IVY
I was rescued in May 2020 after my mum abandoned me in a cow paddock. I have mild hip dysplasia, which means I cannot jump and struggle to climb. The likelihood of me surviving in the wild is slim, so I call Friends of the Koala home!
PALA
PALA
I came to Friends of the Koala in November 2021 from Larnook. I was a young joey who suffered from mild dehydration. I was very active at home-care and couldn’t wait to join the crew in Koala Kindy. After loving care and holidaying in the Kindy Plantation, I was released back into the wild.
EMBER
EMBER
I came to Friends of the Koala after being rescued from the devastating fires in Whiporie, NSW, in 2020. My health improved, and I made a full recovery thanks to the expertise of the veterinary team. I was released back into the wild and have now been spotted with a joey of my own!
MAGNUS
MAGNUS
I was still a pouch young joey that may have been abandoned by my mum when I was rescued in October 2021. When I was big enough for release, it took me longer than most to understand that I needed to find my own food in plantation. I really did love being fed easy fresh leaf in the FOK care centre. After a few failed attempts, I finally got the hang of it and am now out living a happy wild life.
TEMIKA
TEMIKA
After my mother was hit by a car, I was lucky to be protected in the pouch and rescued. I was only five months old at the time and spent over 7 months in FOK Koala Kindy, learning all the skills I would need for the wild. I thrived in care, growing strong and healthy. Thanks to the dedication of my carers, I was fully vaccinated and successfully released in January 2023.
KEOGH
KEOGH
I came to Friends of the Koala from Cawongla with my mother Meggs when I was still a baby on her back. It wasn’t long before I joined the others in Koala Kindy where I learnt how to interact with other koalas. In September 2022, they successfully released me back into the wild.
What you get
Certificate of Adoption
A stunning personalised certificate.
Warm Fuzzy Feelings
For helping to save the species!
Koala Bio & Facts
A detailed history of your koala, with plenty of fab facts.
Why adopt a koala?
Did you know?
Koalas are on the brink of extinction.
PLEASE HELP US ENSURE THEIR SURVIVAL!
Scientists forecast koalas will be extinct in New South Wales, Australia by 2050 unless there is significant action to prevent the loss of their habitat.
Devastating bushfires in 2019/2020 damaged their native environment and killed at least 6,000 koalas in New South Wales alone.
Despite these tragic events and the declining number of koalas, there is hope… with the right conservation efforts, we can save and even repopulate this species.
When you adopt a koala through Friends of the Koala, you directly support the action needed for our precious koalas to survive.
Koala Adoption FAQ
If you’re ready to adopt a koala, thank you! Your donation goes directly to the koalas in our care and helps with the rescue and treatment of sick and injured koalas, aids in their release back into the wild, where possible, and protects them against Chlamydia, which is devastating their populations.
Your koala adoption also helps provide new homes and food for koalas, our conservation work safeguards and restores their forest homes.We also have a community native plant nursery and operate seven koala food tree plantations, because Koalas can’t survive without fresh eucalyptus leaves every day.
By adopting a koala, you are also contributing on a larger scale to the restoration of natural habitats in the Northern Rivers region and funding much-needed research into the prevalence of disease in koala populations.
We have different koala adoption options. We have a one-off option, as well as subscriptions month to month or annually. We hope you renew your adoption regularly and continue supporting our vital work.
It depends on which koala you adopt! Our permanent koalas: Ivy and Charlotte, love visitors. We run tours Monday to Thursday at 2 pm and you can book by calling 66214664.
We have already released some of our koalas back into the wild. You can learn more about each koala on their profile.
Koalas mostly eat eucalyptus leaves but will consume the flowers, buds, stems and bark of a eucalyptus tree. Koalas are fussy eaters and rely only on just a few eucalypt species, which are their primary browse trees. This varies between regions and an individual’s range.
They do browse opportunistically on other species of eucalypts and some non-eucalypts such as She Oaks and Paperbarks. Preferred koala food trees (KFTs) in the Northern Rivers are Forest Red Gum, Tallowwood and Swamp Mahogany.
The koalas we work with are wild koalas and therefore cannot be held and treated like captive-born koalas. We limit their interaction with people as much as possible to ensure they have the best chance of success when they are released.
Koalas are wild animals and cannot be kept as pets. It is illegal to have a koala as a pet anywhere, even in Australia. The only people who may have a koala at home are trained volunteers or veterinary staff who are taking care of sick or injured koalas or orphaned joeys.
If you volunteer with Friends of the Koala or another koala rescue group in your area, you will come in close contact with sick and injured koalas that are being readied for their release back into the wild.
We welcome enquiries from all potential volunteers who are crucial to all aspects of our work. Becoming a volunteer at Friends of the Koala is easy! Simply complete a Volunteer Application Form and our volunteer coordinator will be in touch with you to arrange an induction session. Friends of the Koala is the only organisation in the Northern Rivers that is licensed to rescue koalas.
If you are not based in the Northern Rivers, we have opportunities to volunteer in administrative roles like marketing, PR, volunteer recruitment, financial administration, and our management committee. If you would like to volunteer to work with koalas, contact your local koala rescue group for opportunities.
Adopt more koalas!
A koala adoption is a perfect gift for new babies, birthdays, Christmas, or any other occasion! And koala adoption is addictive, many people end up often adopting more!
Other ways you can help include:
Donations: we cannot do our work without your support. With 99% of the work being done by volunteers, you can be confident your donation will have a direct impact on koalas and their habitat.
Leave a bequest: make a difference after you have gone! A bequest is a fantastic way to support our work and leave a legacy.
Volunteer with us: we rely on nearly 200 passionate volunteers in all aspects of care and conservation. Either get up close and personal with the koalas or use your experience and skills in other ways to support the cause, we would love to hear from you.
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The work of Friends of the Koala is extremely important if we want to ensure koalas survive in the wild.
Australia’s koala is on the brink of extinction. For over 35 years, Friends of the Koala have been on the frontline of the battle to save the species.
With over 500 members, 170 active volunteers, and 8 staff, we operate the largest Koala Hospital on the East Coast of Australia, and this is the only Koala Hospital in the Northern Rivers, a region that is home to one of the last significant, genetically diverse koala populations in Australia.