Male Koala Born at Longleat to celebrate his first birthday

Thursday, 22 June 2023 01:00

Monty, the koala, celebrates his first birthday at Longleat this Saturday.

He is the first male southern koala born at Longleat and he’s also the only one to have been born anywhere in Europe.

Delighted keepers plan to hold a special party for him at the weekend to celebrate his big day.

Monty is the second koala to have been born at Longleat following the birth of his half-sister Hazel in 2021.

“Reaching his first birthday is a huge milestone for Monty and we can’t wait to join in the celebrations at the weekend,” said Keeper Jon Ovens.

“It’s not easy to come up with a birthday cake or a tasty treat as their diet is entirely made up of eucalyptus leaves but we’ll be sure to spoil him along with his amazing mum Maisie,” he added.

Baby koalas, known as joeys, spend the first three months of life living inside their mothers’ pouches and even, at a year old, Monty still remains largely dependent on mum Maisie.

At Longleat the koalas’ purpose-built enclosure includes a natural stream, eucalyptus trees, climbing poles, a mix of indoor and outdoor habitats, viewing areas, and a medical care unit.

A plantation of eucalyptus trees has also been established on the estate to help provide the koalas with a fresh supply of leaves, the only thing the marsupials will eat.

Longleat is the only zoological collection in Europe to look after southern koalas and is part of a long-term partnership with the South Australia Government, Koala Life and Cleland Wildlife Park, in the Adelaide Hills, to support research and conservation programmes for wild koalas.

In the aftermath of the devastating bushfires in 2019, keepers from Koala Creek travelled out to South Australia to help with the recovery programme and earlier this year they returned to see how the recovery programme is progressing and to visit some of the conservation projects Longleat is supporting.

To date, Longleat, with the help of generous visitors, has donated nearly £120,000 to help fund work being undertaken by a number of wildlife rescue groups including Koala Life, SAVEM (South Australian Veterinary Emergency Management) and Minton Farm Rescue.

More from Local News

The Barber Academy Celebrates Ten Years

The Barber Academy is marking ten years since first opening its doors on Fisherton Street, celebrating a decade of training new and experienced barbers while operating as a fully working barbershop.
The International Salisbury Pancake Race Returns for 2026

A popular Salisbury tradition will return this year with a light-hearted contest that brings together workplaces, visitors, and residents in a celebration of shared local spirit.
Bishop of Salisbury to Commission Eight Volunteer Chaplains for the LGBTQIA+ Community

The Bishop of Salisbury, the Rt Revd Stephen Lake, is to commission eight volunteer chaplains to offer affirming support to LGBTQIA+ Christians and those exploring faith.
Tri-County Summit Boosts Joint Effort to Tackle Rural Crime

Wiltshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Philip Wilkinson, has welcomed a renewed commitment to tackling rural crime following a tri‑county summit that brought together senior police leaders, MPs and representatives from rural organisations.
Local Voices Reveal Gaps and Solutions in Dementia Support

Safer and Supportive Salisbury (SaSS), the local community charity dedicated to building a safer and more supportive city, has published its Dementia Research Report 2025, an in-depth study into the experiences of people living with dementia, their carers, and dementia support providers across the Salisbury area.
Rock and Roll Man Interviews: Part 3 - Julian Bird & Gary Turner

Rock and Roll Man opens its UK tour at Salisbury Playhouse in February, and Salisbury Radio was invited to talk to some of the team behind the show.
The Spitfire Café Brings Family Fun to Cross Keys This February Half Term

Families looking for something fun and weather-proof to do this February half term are invited to Cross Keys Shopping Centre, Salisbury, where The Spitfire Café will be hosting a special Kids’ Club throughout the school holidays.
Local RNLI branch seeks more volunteers

The Salisbury and Wilton Fundraising branch of the RNLI is calling on local people to give a little time to suppor their fundraising efforts.