Koala Research
Meet ... Blaze
Bushfire update 6 February 2006: we hadn't seen Blaze for some months when the fire came through. Last time he was seen he was moving south, with Wilma to an area full of tea-tree and difficult to search. We never saw either of them again. They were both elderly, and had lived as neighbours a large part of their lives (at least five years) and I think they went off together to die. I am happy that they were spared the trauma of the fire.
Update - 18/10/04
The mating season for koalas is getting underway now. We regularly hear male koalas roaring - declaring their fitness to all females within range! Blaze, our oldest and probably most dominant male (now that Uncle Tom has passed away) will be receiving challenges from all the young bucks around. We watched the other day as a splendid young male, who we've named Garry Plant (GP for short), took the dangerous step of moving into Blaze's favourite tree, while Blaze was still in it! For several hours we monitored proceedings, as Blaze ignored the newcomer with an unbelievable arrogance - his back was turned to GP, his legs were stretched out in a relaxed posture, he yawned often and feigned sleep the rest of the time. This method seemed to work well, as GP moved down and away into a position where Blaze could not help but look at him. This was when Blaze employed another method - The Death Stare! Only those who've seen The Death Stare can understand how truly chilling it is. Blaze is a master of it, and we've seen him do it to many other males. It must work, because GP had moved far away by the next day!
Blaze is a sweet natured fellow. We have known him since 2002 - at first we only ever saw him in the same tree.
Even to this day, he has a particular fondness for that tree above others, and
is regularly seen in it, hanging over the road.
Blaze is always relaxed, but still
curious about us. We think he is mature possibly born around 1997 but he looks older
and has a very scarred nose. His distinguishing feature is the long white blaze
running along the centre of his nose and a dark spot on his left upper lip.
He is a friendly, content, home-loving
character who looks like he couldn’t hurt a living creature. Yet, he lived next
door to Russell Crowe (a big, dominating male) and survived and now puts up with Ignatius with supreme tolerance.
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