The seedlings are located at a plantation on the Maria River and donated to the Koala Hospital. Here they grow not just local trees but also for koalas in other areas of the state where fires have destroyed habitats and for sick and injured koalas that are in the hospital’s ICU, rehabilitation and permanent care with koalas that cannot be released due to their injuries or disease. Today, Norm and I worked on the trees that have been there 2-3 & 4 years to remove mass saplings from tree trunks so the healthiest saplings can grow without being stunted or strangled by the multiple saplings. Mass saplings can also become a moisture trap becoming vulnerable for bug infestation. Because these branches need to be at a reachable height by leaf/branch collectors, we try and keep the new sprout to grow outward and slightly downward. Once the tree is too high, it becomes an OH&S issue for the volunteers collecting the daily leaf required.

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