Save The Koala Month 2025

Want to help koalas in Australia? During Save The Koala Month, we're donating $5 from every order to Adelaide Koala & Wildlife Centre.

Why Help Koalas During Save The Koala Month?

September is Save The Koala Month, the annual worldwide event dedicated to raising awareness about Koalas and their habitat. Koalas aren't just cute and cuddly. Because their diet primarily consists of eucalpytus leaves, koalas help control forest canopy density, reduce fuel for fires, and provide nutrients for forest regeneration. Additionally, their feeding habits make leaves accessible to other creatures and they even play a role in carbon sequestration.

 

Are Koalas Endangered?

Koalas sure face a lot of challenges. Habitat loss and climate change, bushfires, floods, diseases, car strikes and dog attacks have all impacted koalas. Sadly, this means that Australia's koala population is decreasing, and as of February 2022, the Australian government has listed the koala as endangered. There are currently less than 60,000 koalas left in the wild. But the good news is that it's not too late to save koalas.

Our purpose at Earth Greetings is to contribute to a brighter future for Australia's native wildlife and habitat. That's why we donate $5 from every order in September to Adelaide Koala & Wildlife Centre, to help them rescue, treat and release koalas back into the wild, which helps to ensure their survival.

 

Adelaide Koala & Wildlife Centre

We spoke to Annie from the Adelaide Koala & Wildlife Centre about what common health issues affect koalas and what difference our support has made to the centre.

Heide from EG: How many native animals are treated by Adelaide Koala & Wildlife Centre annually?

Annie from AKAW: We treat around 1600-1900 native animals per year, with spring and summer being our peak season for admissions.

Heide from EG: What are some of the most common health issues affecting koalas being brought in to the centre?

Annie from AKAW: Koalas in South Australia are particularly affected by the condition of oxalate nephrosis and we see many koalas suffering from this condition.  Another very common disease we see is chlamydia in koalas with some koalas also presenting with chlamydia and renal disease.  This year we have seen many koalas injured in dog attacks and these attacks are frequently in backyards when koalas climb into yards.  Vehicle strikes also comprise a number of cases every year as well.

Heide from EG: What should people do if they find a koala sitting on the ground or on the road?

Annie from AKAW: We recommend that the public should contact a permitted rescue group for advice for any koala they have concerns for. Giving the exact location is helpful and if the member of public can wait with a koala if it’s been hit by a car or dog attack until rescuers arrive that would be also beneficial.  Do not attempt to give food or water to the koala unless instructed to do so.  Do not try to pick up the koala, nor take it home – sick koalas can be very frightened and lash out when scared.

Heide from EG: What difference has Earth Greetings' support made to Adelaide Koala & Wildlife Centre?

Annie from AKAW: Ongoing support by Earth Greetings helps us buy necessary equipment or medications.  Every donation makes a difference to the lives of the wildlife we treat.  We truly value Earth Greetings support of our Centre and feel extremely grateful they have chosen us to benefit from their kindness.

Heide from EG: What ongoing support do you need from the government and community to keep Adelaide Koala & Wildlife Centre open and able to continue to help native animals?

Annie from AKAW: In 2025 the SA Government announced they will be supporting our operations for the next 4 years which we are thankful for as we downsized at the end of 2024 due to lack of governmental support. Whilst this funding will keep our doors open, it doesn’t allow for any equipment upgrades, replacement of assets or ongoing improvements for our wildlife.  We are always seeking further donations to make sure we provide the best clinic environment with up to date technology for our wildlife.  Every donation is important to us.

You can support Adelaide Koala & Wildlife Centre by shopping with us during Save the Koala Month (September) - we are donating $5 from every order to the centre. You can also make a donation directly via their website.

 

 

What does Adelaide Koala & Wildlife Centre Do?

Adelaide Koala & Wildlife Centre is a not for profit organisation and their treatment and rehabilitation services rely solely on the generosity and support of others.

Adelaide Koala & Wildlife Centre's main goal is to treat, rehabilitate and release koalas and wildlife that may have become injured, ill or orphaned from their natural environment. Where appropriate, they may also need to arrange long term care for animals which can’t be released directly back into the wild.

Some of the services the team of vets and volunteers at the Adelaide Koala & Wildlife Centre provide include:

Testing for and treating chlamydia - a bacterial infection that can cause a multitude of inflammatory diseases. After establishing that it is in the best interest of the koala to treat their infection, the koala will receive antibiotics with close monitoring for the next two weeks.  Hopefully ending with releasing the koala free from infection, back into the Adelaide hills or surrounding suburbs.

Treating koalas and other wildlife during hot weather events and bushfires - common in koala habitat over the South Australian summers. It's worth noting that on a hot day the best way to help koalas and our wildlife is by placing bowls of water out, keeping them topped up and clean, and making sure the animals can come down to drink without any intervention.

Education and awareness programs for school students, carers, veterinary students and the general public, in the belief that knowledge and understanding is an important factor to securing the future of our wildlife.

Aside from saving the lives of our precious wildlife when they are in need, Adelaide Koala & Wildlife Centre supports research into the medical treatments and key health factors for koalas to help ensure their long term survival.

 

Why We Support Adelaide Koala & Wildlife Centre

“I've always been fascinated by koalas, and living close to bushland I'm often on a mission to spot one high in the gum trees. But koalas are in real trouble - their population is in decline, with less than 60,000 koalas left in the wild. Sadly the Australian government has now declared koalas to be endangered.

Koalas rely on particular gum leaves they like best as food. As humans destroy more of their habitat, koalas have to roam further to find trees for food. Living in closer proximity to humans and one another also makes them more susceptible to disease and injury. Additionally, climate change has worsened bushfires and floods which has caused further population decline.

The thought of losing Australia's fascinating koalas is just so sad to me. Koalas are an iconic representative of the challenges facing all wildlife, and also play an important role in the whole ecosystem. To help all native species, we need to protect the habitats they rely on, and help them when they are suffering.

That's why we support the Adelaide Koala & Wildlife Centre during Save The Koala Month, with a $5 donation from every order. The centre treats around 1600-1900 native animals per year including hundreds of koalas - giving them a better chance of survival, and providing hope for the future of Australia's koalas.

Heide Hackworth - Earth Greetings Founder.

SHOP NOW TO HELP KOALAS!