Koala Cuddling Banned at Sanctuary in Australia: Do Koalas Get Stressed When Touched?

Koalas are the cute marsupials and forest-dwelling wild animals that we know today, often mistaken as bears due to their fluffy appearance and round ears. They can be found in different parts of Australia such as in the states of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. Alongside kangaroos and other wild creatures, the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) is a beloved animal in Australia.

However, wildlife experts say that koalas are not pets since they can also become aggressive towards humans, despite their innocent and heart-warming appearance. Recently, a wildlife sanctuary in Australia banned its 'koala cuddling experience' activity to its visitors due to animal welfare concerns and after receiving a backlash from wildlife advocates. One expert explained that koalas also get stressed when held or petted.

In the past, studies have shown that the cute koalas we perceive are just like other wild animals, which can become aggressive when in close proximity to us. In recent years, various reports and several social media posts show that koalas are capable of attacking humans, resulting in injuries from their sharp teeth and claws. Due to this danger, experts recommend not to handle koalas at all.

Koala Cuddling Experience Ban

On Monday, July 8, local reports said that the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane, Queensland, has banned its koala cuddling experience. The ban prevents the sanctuary's visitors to approach and touch the fluffy marsupials until further notice. Yet, sanctuary officials denied that animal welfare concerns are the reason behind their decision to ban their long-time popular activity for visitors.

According to the sanctuary's general manager, Lyndon Discombe, the decision to ban the koala cuddling experience was driven by feedback from visitors that indicated people only wanted to get close to the koalas instead of holding them, as cited by local media. Yet, the recent announcement came following backlash from a local newspaper article, which included a poll from the public about their opinion on cuddling koalas.

It is still unclear when the ban at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary will remain in effect, but there are no indications that Queensland authorities will also implement it across the state.

Do Koalas Like to be Touched?

Studies imply that forced interactions between humans and koalas make the latter feel stressed, according to zoologist and animal welfare expert, Dr. Jennifer Ford, as cited by the non-profit charity organization World Animal Protection. This means that koalas do not like to be touched, including being hugged and used as photo props, which are unacceptable from an animal welfare standpoint, Dr. Ford emphasizes.

This perspective is evident since koalas are solitary animals and take time to rest for up to 20 hours per day. Cuddling koalas in a zoo or enclosure setting is different from the wild, where koalas can be more unpredictable and dangerous.