As
we live in the bush, we have the pleasure of visits from not
just the animals we have raised, but 
also
the wild population on occasion. It is however not too often
that they venture quite as close as this.
This
little Koala came for a visit one evening, the lights were all
on, the doors open, and much to our surprise he had arrived
without a sound, sitting on a pole watching us from within meters.
He
stayed for about an hour, then slowly made his way back to the
forest.
He is a young one from last year, his mum is a regular visitor
to our back yard, and in the last few weeks we have heard the
distinct sound, that tells us she is probably again with a new
cub in her pouch. 
The
little one would have been told to go find his own territory.
We feel very privileged to be able to watch these wonderful
animals in their natural habitat.
Early
one morning we awoke to the sounds of Koalas, all did not seem
as 
peaceful
as usual, the female and her cub was screeching, so out we went
for a look.
In
one tree sat the resident male, in another tree the female, her
cub a bit further out on the branch.
We
watched in amazement as the 
male
jumped with no effort at all to the tree with mum and cub.
The
little cub quickly took off higher up the tree, out of harms way,
but letting the male know in no uncertain terms that he did not
approve. He screeched and yelled all the way.
The
mating ritual did not seem to agree with the female at all, in
fact it sounded rather brutal.
Later
in the year, we did see the result though, as another little Koala
climbed all over Mum, right to the top of her head, as it reached
for that must have leaf on the end of a branch of delicious eucalypt.
Images by Katrina &
Susanne Ulyatt
but
managing just fine, he knows his way around. 
ay
across the yard towards the forest, following along the fence line
he knows well, then up a large gum tree, ready to munch the night
away.
