Koala Research

Meet ... Fran (Franjenmel)

Bushfire update 6 February 2006: we haven't seen Fran since the fire. There is still hope - other wildlife shelters in the region have taken some animals, and we are currently trying to find out whether any of them have her, but several dead koalas were found in her area and we are afraid she may have passed away.

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We have actually known Fran for quite a while without naming her. We first (officially) met and named her Fran in May 2004, and since then have seen her many times. She is named after the three travellers who found her - Francis, Jennifer and Michelle from California.

She lives near a house with a horse, some sheep, a dog and a family of humans - so she is quite relaxed with humans and probably wonders why we are so excited about her! She has dark, deep set eyes, rounded ears and a very unusual splash of white on her nose.

Her Koala neighbours are Yobbo and JoFrank, and possibly others we don't know as well. Placid and Fredon used to live quite close by, but sadly they have passed away and no-one yet has moved into their home areas. Koalas seem to respect and mourn their deceased friends, by avoiding the area they lived in for about two years. Hopefully soon Fran will have some new neighbours to keep her company!

Fran has been adopted by a family in the Netherlands.

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