Proper tldr;

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Queensland, Australia, has implemented a new policy prohibiting visitors from cuddling koalas. This decision was made in response to concerns raised by animal welfare advocates and experts about the stress and potential harm cuddling may cause to the koalas. The sanctuary’s management aims to prioritize the well-being and natural behavior of the koalas while still allowing visitors to interact with them in other ways that are less intrusive.

More:

Koalas are naturally solitary animals and are sensitive to stress from various sources, including human interaction. When koalas are cuddled or held by visitors, it can cause stress due to several reasons:

-Koalas are wild animals and may find being handled or restrained uncomfortable or frightening. This can lead to stress responses such as increased heart rate, elevated cortisol levels (stress hormone), and defensive behaviors.

-Koalas spend most of their time sleeping and resting in trees, and they are not accustomed to being picked up or held. Being cuddled can disrupt their natural behavior patterns and routines.

-Improper handling or sudden movements by visitors can potentially cause physical harm to the koalas, such as scratches or other injuries.

-Close contact with humans can also pose health risks, such as the transmission of diseases or parasites between koalas and visitors.

-With koalas already facing threats in the wild, such as habitat loss and disease, minimizing stress and ensuring their well-being in captivity is crucial for their long-term conservation.

My dad got to “cuddle” a koala on a trip to Australia back in the 80s. He said it dug its claws into his back and it smelled bad and it was just a highly unpleasant experience overall.

Just because something looks cute doesn’t mean you should cuddle with it. You probably shouldn’t cuddle with a hedgehog either.

He did say that he also got to pet a wombat and it was very sweet.

Ya, it should be banned. We have no right to force what we want on the animals. It’s just going to stress them out.

You refuse to cuddle koalas for their welfare.

I refuse to cuddle koalas because I don’t want Chlamydia.

We are not the same.

This is the best summary I could come up with:

Celebrities, politicians and untold thousands of tourists have done it for years but cuddling koalas at a Brisbane wildlife sanctuary is coming to an end after feedback from visitors.

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary opened in the Queensland capital in 1927, and describes itself as the world’s first koala sanctuary.

Now it has announced an end to koala holding as of Monday, replacing it with “close-up” experiences instead.

The move comes as an international animal welfare organisation leads calls for koala cuddling to be officially outlawed.

Here’s what you need to know about holding koalas in Australia:

With additional reporting by Australian Associated Press

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