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Koala beats heat in climate-controlled comfort at Lowry Park

Tribune photo by JIM REED

Bundaleer, a Queensland koala, went on display today at Lowry Park Zoo.

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By LENORA LAKE

llake@tampatrib.com

Published: June 29, 2009

TAMPA - Bundaleer, a 10-year-old Queensland koala, took the grand opening of his exhibit in stride.

While several hundred visitors to Lowry Park Zoo waited in the heat to see the new resident, the koala stayed snuggled among the eucalyptus leaves in his climate-controlled habitant. He raised his head, reached for food and peered at the crowd gathered in the 4 1/2-acre Wallaroo Station, the zoo's Australian-themed family area.

"The most important thing is to control it for the humidity," said Chris Massaro, an assistant curator. "Seventy percent humidity is pretty intolerable" for the Australian marsupial.

Massaro and another zookeeper attended a two-week training course at Bundaleer's home zoo in San Diego to learn proper care of the koala.

"There are many specifics to take care of one," Massaro said. "We have to learn about the different species of eucalyptus, which is all they eat. We don't even give them treats."

Massaro said the koalas eat 80 species of eucalyptus and that the zoo will be able to obtain up to 35 species from a Florida farm. If the food remains fresh and hydrated, the koala won't drink water.

Koalas are solitary animals and males can't be housed together, Massaro said. The males and females only socialize during mating season and Bundaleer has fathered some offspring in previous years.

They sleep up to 20 hours a day, Massaro said. "Their diet's nutritional level doesn't give them a lot of energy."

The 10-minute ribbon-cutting ceremony included Craig Pugh, the zoo's acting chief executive officer, who said the koala serves an ambassador for the importance of conservation. The koalas were once hunted to near extinction with more than 8 million killed for their fur between 1919 and 1924.

Coleen Young, 44, of Tampa brought her daughters, Lauren, 13, and Heather, 12, to the grand opening.

"When I was their age and younger, I had a collection of (stuffed) koalas and that was my favorite animal," Young said.

Bundaleer arrived last week, flying in a carrier on two airplane seats. His travels were chronicled by zoo staff on Twitter and Facebook.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Bundaleer, a Queensland koala

WHERE: Lowry Park Zoo, 1101 W. Sligh Ave.

HOURS: 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. daily

ADMISSION: $19.95 ages 12 to 59; $17.95 ages 60 and older; $14.95 ages 3 to 11; and free for those 2 and younger.

INFORMATION: (813) 935-8552 or www.lowryparkzoo.com

Correspondent Lenora Lake can be reached at (813) 259-7600.

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