Geelong koala enthusiasts will get a firsthand look at some furry climbers with free tours in the You Yangs next week.
Staughton Vale researcher Janine Duffy said locals were fascinated to learn some koalas living in the Regional Park were “world-famous”.
“Clancy, the most famous wild koala in the world – with 32,000 fans on Facebook – lives in the You Yangs with his family,” Janine said.
The Koala Clancy Foundation will run free, 90-minute mini-tours for National Wild Koala Day on 3 May.
“It’s our way of showing the community what we’re doing out here,” Janine said.
“Wild Koala Day is actually Clancy’s real birthday.”
Clancy, who was “possibly the first male koala ever to be continuously monitored without a tag”, will turn seven next week.
“We’ve been doing research in the You Yangs for 11 years and his grandmother was one the first koalas we met,” Janine said.
The foundation will run a two tours next Wednesday and Saturday (3 and 6 May) starting at 11.45am and 2.45pm.
Janine encouraged people to book ahead with places filling fast.
“Tickets are free, but we encourage participants to make at least a gold coin donation per person,”
Barwon Heads’ Rebeca Normington has been involved with the Koala Clancy Foundation since March.
“I have learned so much about nature in my own backyard, met amazing people from all over the world, and made some wonderful new local friends.”
The Gordon biology student encourages everyone to get involved.
“Seeing the koalas and the results of the Koala Conservation Program makes me proud to call this place home.”
Janine encouraged readers to visit koalaclancyfoundation.org.au/research/wild-koala-day to get involved.
Avalon Airport has got on board the celebrations with a free Wild Koala Photo Exhibition in the departure hall from this Saturday to 7 May.
Travellers will also get to learn about koala from local experts and enjoy children’s activities at the airport.
