11 May 2011
A STOLEN koala was found today dumped in a trash bin in a parking lot outside the Australian zoo that he was taken from - alive, but stressed and hungry.
The 13-year-old marsupial named Banjo was stolen some time Monday night from an enclosure at the Australian Reptile Park near Gosford, about 75km north of Sydney.
Only hours after reports emerged of the koala's theft today, an anonymous phone tip off was made to the zoo, with the caller revealing where they had left Banjo.
"He was found in a plastic garbage bin with a crate over the top," zoo spokesperson Libby Bain told NewsCore.
Bain said Banjo was "obviously stressed" and in need of food, but otherwise appeared unharmed.
Banjo is considered elderly by koala standards, with the iconic Australian species having a life expectancy in the wild of about 10 years and 15 in captivity, The Daily Telegraph reported.
The Reptile Park acquired him from a zoo on Australia's warmer Gold Coast early this year to increase the genetic diversity of its breeding program.
Australian wildlife parks have been hit by thieves before - most recently with the theft of rare monkeys making headlines - but this was believed to be the first time criminals have taken a koala.
Police are investigating.
