A tiny koala joey is being hand-raised at the Australian Reptile Park after her mum became unexpectedly sick and could no longer care for her.
The joey, named Helene, is now receiving around the clock care from Head Mammals Keeper Seleena De Gelder, who has stepped in as her full-time carer to give the little koala the best chance of survival.
Without the Park’s intervention, Helene would not have made it.
“Helene is one of the smallest koala joeys we’ve ever raised here at the Park,” said Head Mammals Keeper Seleena De Gelder. “Helene came into my care when her mum got unexpectedly sick and we had to intervene to ensure her survival. When Helene first came into my care she was a tiny 240 grams, but each day she’s growing and getting stronger. She is absolutely thriving.”
Koala joeys are born weighing less than a gram and spend the first six to seven months of their lives developing inside their mother’s pouch. When Helene came into Seleena’s care, she was still very young, barely covered in fur and weighed about the same as a stick of butter.
Raising a joey this small is a huge commitment. Seleena is bottle feeding Helene every two hours, day and night, to help replicate the constant nourishment she would normally receive from her mum.
“Raising a koala joey is exhausting. Bottle feeds every two hours, even through the night,” Seleena said. “But my gosh, I’m so lucky. I can’t believe I get to do this.”
Despite her tiny size, Helene is already beginning to show her personality. She is sweet, determined and very clear when she wants her bottle.
“She is the absolute cutest. She’s just starting to develop a personality now. She’s very sweet. She can be very demanding when she wants her bottle, and she’s just trying to figure out how to get the leaf into her mouth,” Seleena said.
Helene will remain in Seleena’s care for up to seven months as she continues to grow, gain strength and develop the skills she needs before rejoining the koalas at the Australian Reptile Park.
“Helene and I have a long journey together. It’s going to be about seven months until she’s big enough and strong enough to rejoin the koalas here at the Reptile Park,” Seleena said.
Beyond Helene’s survival, her story is part of something much bigger.
Helene is part of the Australian Reptile Park’s koala breeding program, which helps safeguard one of Australia’s most iconic native animals. Each year, the Park welcomes new koala joeys and helps visitors learn more about the species through educational resources and up-close experiences.
Koalas are listed as vulnerable in New South Wales and Queensland, with wild populations facing ongoing pressure from habitat loss, disease and urban development.
At birth, koala joeys are roughly the size of a jellybean and instinctively crawl into their mother’s pouch unaided, where they continue developing for the next six to seven months. When a joey is separated from its mother or needs urgent support, the ability of wildlife parks and sanctuaries to step in can be life-changing.
For tiny Helene, that care has already made all the difference.