Koalas At Singapore Zoo Took Their Passports And Flew Back To Brisbane

After their ten months stay at Singapore Zoo, the lovely koalas, Paddle, Pellita, Chan and Idalia, had flew back to their Brisbane via Qantas. The four Australian koalas have returned to their home at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary after their successful diplomatic relations mission at “Koala-mania” in Singapore Zoo. The koalas were gifted on loan to Singapore Zoo from the Australian Government to celebrate Singapore’s 50th anniversary of independence as well as 50 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Over 800,000 guests visited “Koala-mania” to meet the koala bears between May to December 2015. The Australian Zone in Singapore Zoo is currently being revamped, and will feature other Australian animals when it re-opens. Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary worked closely with both Qantas Freight and Singapore Zoo for their travel and stay overseas.

Twice a week, Qantas Freight shipped gum leaves to the Singapore Zoo, supplying regular fresh food for the koalas. To prepare each shipment of gum leaves for export, Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary would wash every branch harvested the day prior to shipment. Each load was certified by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF). Since the koalas’ arrival in April 2015, Qantas freighted 75 shipments of gum leaf foliage, weighing over 4,400kgs.