Park general manager Lachlan Gordon said the trees planted in September would provide an ongoing food source for the koalas at the park, as well as for wild koalas being looked after by other wildlife carers.
“The food forest is about creating long-term sustainability,” he said.
“We’ll be able to continue to keep our koalas well fed and healthy and provide a supply of tasty, nutritious food for wildlife in care.
“Koalas prefer some eucalypt species more than others and carers of wild koalas often struggle to locate suitable food sources.
“We hope this eucalypt forest will become a statewide or even nationwide resource in times of natural disasters where koalas could be displaced.”
Five species of eucalypt were planted, all of which are preferred by koalas: manna gum (Eucalyptus viminalis), swamp gum (Eucalyptus ovata), southern blue gum (Eucalyptus globulus) Gippsland red gum (Eucalyptus tereticornis subsp. mediana) and river red gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis).
“The trees are looking fantastic, with the good rains we’ve had this year they should be ready to start harvesting leaves in around 18 months,” Mr Gordon said.
Volunteers from the Friends of Gargarro group planted the 2000 eucalypts on three plots of land adjoining the Botanic Gardens in Girgarre, 15km south-west of Kyabram.
Gargarro project convenor Athol ‘Doc’ McDonald was enthusiastic about the partnership improving the conservation outcomes for a much-loved species.
“We think it’s a great collaboration with another community-run facility within the district,” he said.
“The food forest also adds some interest to the gardens. We can explain to visitors what it’s all about and I’m sure they’ll think it’s a pretty worthwhile thing to be doing.”
The Kyabram Fauna Park and Gargarro Botanic Gardens received $4000 from the Campaspe Shire Council Community Grants Program in 2020 to establish the food forest.
