Meet the koalas in our Wild Koala Research Project

Or meet them personally on one of our koala research tours: Great Ocean Road 3 day, Sunset Koalas & Kangaroos IN THE WILD or Koalas & Kangaroos IN THE WILD.

Our Koala’s family trees

Our Koala’s Stories

About Koala Mara

About Koala Mara

Mara Origin of name: Mara is named to honour the Gunditj-mara Aboriginal People of western Victoria. Learn about the Gunditj-mara People and take a tour with Budj Bim Tours Known since: Mara was first seen on 19 January 2016. She appeared to be a young mature female...

About Koala Mabo

About Koala Mabo

Mabo Origin of name: Mabo is named to honour Eddie Mabo – the Torres Strait Islander man who was responsible for changing the Native Title laws in Australia. Read about this amazing man here. How long have we known him? Mabo the koala was first seen in early January...

About Koala Lakorra

About Koala Lakorra

Lakorra Origin of name: Hannah, one of our Koala Researchers, and an Aboriginal woman living on Wathaurong Country, proposed the name. Lakorra means sky in the Wathaurong language. Known since: We first saw Lakorra as a tiny joey on Ngardang’s belly on 23 September...

About Koala Gulkurguli

About Koala Gulkurguli

Gulkurguli Origin of name: Gulkurguli means boy in Wathaurong, the original language of the You Yangs region. A book by Bruce Pascoe: “Convincing Ground: Learning to Fall in Love with Your Country” includes a reference to the Wathaurong word gulkurguli. Known since:...

About Koala Jandamarra

About Koala Jandamarra

Jandamarra Origin of name: Jandamarra is named after the famous Aboriginal freedom fighter of the Bunuba People of the Kimberley region, Western Australia. Read about this amazing man here. Known since: He was first seen in January 2017 . How often seen: Jandamarra...

About Koala Zack

About Koala Zack

Zack Origin of name: It just seemed to suit him.. Known since: He was first seen in October 2013, as a fairly young male. We assume he was around 3 years old at that time. How often seen: Zack has already been seen 29 times in 2018. He is a frequent superstar! Family:...

About Koala Bermborok

About Koala Bermborok

Bermborok Origin of name: The Bermborok Clan of the Wathaurong Aboriginal People lived for tens of thousands of years around the Brisbane Ranges, just west of the You Yangs. The current town of Beremboke is sourced from this name. Known since: She was first seen in...

About Koala Cruiz

About Koala Cruiz

Cruiz Origin of name: At first we mostly saw Cruiz in summer, on days when we were running shore excursions off cruise ships. These days we see him all year round. Known since: We first saw Cruiz as a big healthy young male, possibly about 3 years old, in November...

About Koala Bungaleenee

About Koala Bungaleenee

Bungaleenee Origin of name: Bungaleenee was an Aboriginal man from Gippsland at the time of European invasion. He was accused of involvement in a crime (which probably never happened) and imprisoned, and his two sons were taken away and ‘educated’ at the Merri Creek...

About Koala Wemba

About Koala Wemba

Wemba Origin of name: Wemba is named for the Wemba-wemba Aboriginal People of northern Victoria. Our former chief Koala Researcher, Melinda, is descended from the Wemba Wemba.  Melinda and her family have been influential throughout Echidna Walkabout's history. Known...

About Koala Winberry

About Koala Winberry

Winberry Origin of name: Winberry was an Aboriginal man living around Melbourne at the time of Melbourne’s invasion. Known since: He was first seen on 19 December 2009 in the area he still lives today. How often seen: Winberry is one of our most frequently-seen...

About Koala Djadja

About Koala Djadja

Djadja Origin of name: Djadja is taken from Djadja-wurrung, the Aboriginal People of northern Victoria. Known since: Koala Djadja was first seen on 4 October 2016 as a 6 month old joey. That puts her birthday at around March/April 2016. How often seen: As she's...

About Koala Babarrang

About Koala Babarrang

Babarrang Origin of name: Babarrang means auntie in the local Wathaurong Aboriginal language. Known since: She was first seen in November 2013, with a joey. She appeared mature when first seen, so she was probably at least 3 years old at that time. How often seen:...

About Koala Ngardang

About Koala Ngardang

Ngardang Origin of name: Ngardang means mother in the Wathaurong Aboriginal language of the You Yangs/Geelong/Ballarat region. Known since: 2014 – she was first seen as a tiny joey with her mum Babarrang. We estimate she was born in January 2014. How often seen: She...

About Koala Lluvia

About Koala Lluvia

Lluvia Origin of name: Lluvia means rain in Spanish. When he was a baby we were hoping for rain, and we asked our team member, Carolina, from Colombia, the word for rain in Spanish. Known since: He first emerged as a 6 month old from Misty’s pouch on 25 August 2015....

About Koala Bobo

About Koala Bobo

Bobo Origin of name: Suggested by Wildlife Guide Kirby - seemed to fit with YuYu Known since: Bobo first emerged from YuYu's pouch on 19th November 2017 How often seen: Bobo has been seen 9 times in 2018. That might change when he becomes independent, but at the...

About Koala YuYu

About Koala YuYu

YuYu Origin of name: Named by one of our best supporters after her pet, but changed a little to incorporate the sound of the You Yangs. Known since: YuYu was first seen on 16th November 2014 How often seen: YuYu was seen 13 times in 2017. She is not seen as often as...

About Koala Misty

About Koala Misty

Misty Origin of name: In 2014 she was taken into koala hospital due to heat stress after four days over 40 C. She enjoyed having a fine mist sprayed onto her. Known since: 18th January 2014 How often seen: She has been seen 31 times in 2017 Family: She has two...

About Koala Cuddles

About Koala Cuddles

Cuddles Origin of name: Named to honour Cuddles of Noosa, a wild male koala who was monitored for years by Bernard Jean & Meghan Halverson of Queensland Koala Crusaders/Noosa Koala Sightings. Cuddles of Noosa sadly passed away in 2016, the year Cuddles of the You...

About Koala KiKi

About Koala KiKi

KiKi Origin of name: KiKi seemed to fit with YuYu. It means new life. Known since: She was first seen as a tiny baby on 28 September 2016 with her mother YuYu. .. How often seen: KiKi is seen frequently - she was seen over 25 times in 2017, and 46 times in 2019....