Birth of twin koalas at Yanchep National Park

6/10/96

A rare and significant wildlife event has taken place at Yanchep National Park - the birth of twin koalas.

The twins are thought to be unique in having survived infancy - the first ever recorded in Western Australia.

They were born seven months ago to mother koala Inky and father koala Bindi, both resident at Yanchep.

Family and Children's Services Minister Cheryl Edwardes said the historic birth and survival were of national significance, demonstrating the quality of care the Yanchep koalas had been receiving.

"Yanchep National Park and the people of WA are indeed very fortunate to have this extremely rare phenomena occur in our State," Mrs Edwardes said.

"The twins are cute and healthy and are becoming a major tourist attraction for Yanchep National Park."

Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) breed during the summer months and females generally produce a single young each year. After a pregnancy of around 35 days, the young koala, at birth about one cm long and 0.5gms in weight, crawls into the mother's pouch and attaches itself to one of her two nipples for five to six months.

The twins at Yanchep were first noticed when they started appearing outside the mother's pouch. The past month has been a critical stage in their survival and both look like becoming permanent stars of Yanchep National Park.

Mrs Edwardes said the Department of Conservation and Land Management had decided to hold a naming competition in conjunction with Radio Lollipop and Princess Margaret Hospital, to celebrate the birth and survival of the twins.

"The naming competition will give those children from throughout the State -who are visiting PMH for treatment - the opportunity to choose names for the twins," she said.

The naming competition will be run by Radio Lollipop for CALM, over a two-week period, with the winning entry decided by a panel comprising representatives from Radio Lollipop, PMH and CALM.

The winning prize consists of a weekend away for the winner and his/her family at Perup Wilderness Lodge, a Gold Star Pass - which includes a year's subscription to LANDSCOPE and entry to all National Parks in WA - and a set of CALM's Bush Books.

Mrs Edwardes said the twins were another welcome addition to the major improvements being undertaken at Yanchep National Park.

"Yanchep National Park has recently gone from strength to strength," she said.

"It has undergone a major improvement program, with significant changes to the infrastructure of the park, including new roadworks, new car parks, the establishment of walkways and viewing platforms."

The Minister said the park had also increased its nature-based tourism and recreational activities including;

+ cave tours;

+ the upgrade and establishment of walk trails around the park with new signage and heritage colour scheme system;

+ the newly rebuilt Kiwanis Jetty;

+ the upgrade of 20 rowboats;

+ the construction of koala viewing facilities;

+ the renovation of Yanchep Inn; and -

+ the extension of the Wildflower Gardens.

"The twin koalas will only add to the significant steps being made by Yanchep National Park in conservation and nature-based tourism," Mrs Edwardes said.

Media contacts: Diana Russell Coote 421 7777

Yanchep National Park Ranger John Wheeler 561 1004