The flu can get the best of anyone it seems, including koala’s, after 57 of the cuddly animals were quarantined at a South Australian zoo.
Cleland Wildlife Park in the Adelaide hills have suspended their popular Koala meet and greets following the outbreak, The Advertiser reports.
It comes as three-quarters of the marsupials exhibited flu-like symptoms, such as coughs, sniffles and nasal discharge.
Cleland Wildlife Park in the Adelaide hills have had to suspend their popular Koala experiences and quarantine 57 of the marsupials after they began experiencing flu-like symptoms (stock photo)
The koalas were first quarantined at the end of June, with hopes they would return to good health and behind-the-scenes tours within a month.
But just three-days of the close up experiences were held in July, with ‘unfavourable weather’ believed to have played a part.
While the koala’s remain on hold under ‘strict quarantine conditions,’ Cleland park state online that they can be seen ‘any time of the day’ and are running keeper talks as usual.
‘Experiences’ with the park’s marsupials range in price, with private packages to hold them among the most expensive at around $350.
The koalas were first taken off display at the end of June, with hopes they would return for the hold and feed experiences by July, but three-quarters of the population are still sick (stock photo)
The Wildlife Park informed the public of the animal’s sickness in a post to the group’s Facebook page on June 21, saying the vet had assured them ‘that koala sniffles are nowhere near as bad as man flu’
The Wildlife Park informed the public of the animal’s sickness in a post to the group’s Facebook page on June 21, joking that they were doing better than the humans.
‘Our vet is providing our koalas with the best possible care and assures us that koala sniffles is nowhere near as bad as man flu,’ they wrote.
While in August the Park released a statement saying the koalas were ‘resting and having a break’.
‘They are doing very well but it is important for us to ensure they get the best possible care and opportunity to recover fully,’ the statement read.
September marks Save the Koala month, which aims to raise awareness for koala’s living in the wild and the destruction of their habitat.
‘Experiences’ with the park’s marsupials range in price, with private packages to hold them among the most expensive at around $350 (stock photo)