In fact the koala is now listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species as a Vulnerable species.

Passionate zoo owner Mark Stone said it was very disappointing, and that they will continue to run their breeding centre and do all they can for the species and their cousins in the wild.

Billabong Zoo is well regarded as a leader in koala breeding. It is certainly a passion of Mr Stone, who is also an ambassador for Animals in the wild. 

“One of the reasons we came to Port Macquarie was the fact it already had an established koala identity at the wildlife park and we admired the great work the koala hospital were doing in the area,” Mr Stone said.

“This part of NSW is regarded as stronghold for a wild koala population and we need to preserve this.”

So why is captive breeding so important? Mr Stone said it is his belief that modern zoos play a crucial role in the conservation of wild species.

“We are primarily educators and together with our ambassador animal friends, need to highlight the plight of animal species in the wild,” he said.

“There is a particular emphasis on the threatened and endangered species. There is, sadly, a rapidly growing number of animals that are now extinct in the wild but fortunately still survive successfully in zoos.”

The Mid North Coast of NSW has always been identified with wild koalas. However, the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital reported in April 2016 that due to rampant development and habitat clearing for urban expansion, there had been a noticeable drop in breeding koalas in recent years.

“Complacency is the biggest threat of all,” Mr Stone said.

“Hopefully we can motivate locals and visitors to our region through our awareness campaign and practical solutions to help with the regeneration and conservation of Mid North Coast wild koala population.

“It will be a good day for all Australians and a great step forward for our koalas locally.”

The zoo collects kilograms of fresh eucalypt leaves every day from designated land around Port Macquarie.

Even though there are more than 700 species of native Australian eucalypts, in each region koalas will only eat about 10 types as their main food source.

In the Port Macquarie-Hasting region koala food trees include Tallowwood, Flooded, Rose and Cabbage gums and Red and Swamp mahoganies. 

Blake Stone, senior Zoo Keeper, said over the years the zoo has set up very good relationships with local owners of properties where the food trees flourish.

“We also get regular calls from horticulturists and landscapers who let us know if leaves are available on trees they are pruning or felling,” he said. 

“All our leaf gatherers have been trained to harvest sustainably. But we are seeing a decline in the number of food trees available in the area.

“We aim to ensure we keep our breeding colony genetically strong and disease free as we supply and support other zoo’s breeding programs”.