In an effort to aid the recovery and treatment of wildlife injured in the Australian bushfires, the Koala Hospital Port Macquarie in New South Wales, Australia has set up a website to allow the overseas or electronic-adoption of koalas.
Eighteen koalas are currently available for international or electronic adoption on the hospital’s website. Once adopted, the beneficiary sends 40 Australian dollars (20 US dollars) to the institute for electronic adoption, which is used in the “rescue and treatment of sick and injured koalas and release back to their home range where possible. Adoption[s] also assists with the conservation and expansion of habitat, collection of information for research relating to habitat, disease, nutrition and habits of wild koalas. It also helps to provide educational material to increase public awareness of all aspects of the koala,” as mentioned in the website.
“I think this website has a really good intention,” said Veda Gottumukkala, a freshman at James Logan High School. “I found out about this through a couple of my friends who have been researching the Australian fires. It was really kind that we’re not only helping people, but we’re also looking out for the wildlife because that’s also very important.”
“First they give a description of the koala[s], which is very nice,” Gottumukkala observes, “[and] they have pictures of them. And the price [of adoption] is not that high. What I really like about the website is that they’re saying ‘Adopt a koala,’ so we know where our money is going. They don’t simply ask for money.”
However, Gottumukkala feels, “They should have a bit more credibility since we can’t actually see the koalas for ourselves. Other than that, I think this website is promoting a really good idea.”
