Animal Diaries Archive

Koala Talk

26 October 2007

Well I'm sure some of you have already read lots of stories about Super Cooper, Australia Zoo's 17 year old male koala. Following closely on Cooper's heels is Kozzi, another sweet old boy who is approaching 13 years of age. By both wild and captivity standards these two boys have both outlived their average life expectancy and are enjoying 'retirement' at the zoo (meaning ample amounts of food, lots of cuddles, going for walks in the sunshine and getting spoilt rotten by their keepers!).

Cooper and Kozzi are housed in enclosures next door to each other and despite their age, they remain two of our most vocal males at the zoo. During breeding season, all of the boys pipe up and let out hearty bellows to communicate to the other males and establish their territorial boundaries. And Cooper and Kozzi are right in the thick of it, bellowing along with the best of them. Often long after the other boys have worn themselves out, Cooper and Kozzi will still talk away to each other.

In my mind, I can just imagine them; two old men sharing their 'wisdom' and telling all the younger boys off!