Wildlife Wonderland’s been making news across the globe this week, with countries such as the UK, US, Germany & Spain picking up on our news of koala twins!

BABY Kailla is striking out on her own after finding no room in mum’s pouch.

The koala twins may be only the fourth to be born in captivity.

Carers at Wildlife Wonderland Park in Bass were unaware they were harbouring twin koalas, which has happened only four times in captivity.

But on Friday, Kailla fell out of mum Bussy’s pouch and carer Darren Tilley was shocked to see another arm when he tried to reunite them. Because there was another baby in her pouch, Bussy didn’t realise Kailla was hers.

“Unfortunately we’re having to hand-rear Kailla because there’s not enough room for her in the pouch,” Mr Tilley said.

“The pouch is not designed to carry two babies and the animals are not accustomed to multiple babies.” “To put it into perspective, I’d have to say it’d be almost like me actually giving birth,” park owner Darren Tilley said.

Mr Tilley is feeding Kailla with a baby bottle every two hours at the moment.

Her yet-to-be named brother or sister is safe inside the pouch.

And little Kailla is battling the odds too, surviving well so far outside the pouch.

The orphaned baby has a one in 10,000 chance of survival, but staff say both brother and sister are doing fine.

Wildlife Wonderland recently got a mention on stuff.co.nz in an article detailing ‘A pick of the best Aussie zoos’.

“There is plenty of native wildlife on offer at Wildlife Wonderland in Bass, 115km south-east of Melbourne, including sugar gliders, koalas and possums.

But the highlight of a visit is the opportunity to cradle one of the park’s baby wombats and pose for the camera. Whilst adult wombats may be slightly comical, the little ones are utterly adorable.”

Magaya the koala brought new year birthday cheer to Wildlife Wonderland last week.

The beautiful creature, who captured the hearts of Leader readers as a newborn, has turned one.

And volunteer ranger Darren Tilley, who looks after Magaya, said he was delighted with his progress.

The koala has been through the weaning process and has abandoned his baby milk for gum leaves.

“He has grown so much in the last year and is gaining strength every day,” Mr Tilley said.

“He is getting very mature and has become quite independent in the past few months. He is progressing much better than we hoped.”

Another ranger, Matthew Rixon, from Hastings, introduced us to the koala when he was just a baby, newly emerged from the pouch.

Hundreds of readers suggested names for Wildlife Wonderland’s star attraction and eventually Magaya, which is an Aboriginal word for peace, was chosen.

Rangers will continue to care for Magaya until he is old enough to mate and he will then become part of Wonderland’s breeding program.

Introducing the star attraction of Wildlife Wonderland – Magaya.

Yes, the baby koala readers all over Melbourne took to their hearts finally has a name.

It is an Aboriginal word for peace and was suggested by Vikki Shaw.

She thought it was appropriate after reading the heartfelt comments by Hastings volunteer ranger Matthew Rixon (Leader, August 18).

“The article was a touching interview with the keeper, who said he felt a lot of peace and happiness when he was around the baby koala,” Ms Shaw said.

“It struck me that it was such a touching sentence that I looked up the Aboriginal word for peace – and that was it.”

After seven years living in Holland, Ms Shaw returned to Australia last December with her new family, including her two children, Etienne and Arjen (pictured).

Ms Shaw said her boys were particularly fond of koalas and meeting Magaya last week at the Bass wildlife park was their first opportunity to see one up close.

“At one point while in Holland their grandmother sent them jumpers with the image of a koala on it and it had koala ears,” she said.

“They were such a hit that they are still wearing them.”

Wildlife Wonderland’s Jason Watson was thrilled with the large number of names offered and will provide free entry to the park for everyone who made a suggestion.

“The little koala will eventually start to respond to his new name,” Mr Watson said.

“We were grateful for so much support and enjoyed getting to meet so many people through it (the competition).”

Last week he was sitting pretty on the shoulders of volunteer ranger Matthew Rixon. This week it’s Wildlife Wonderland’s Darren Tilley providing the best seat in the house.

But this little fella is capturing hearts all over Melbourne and they are offering some ripper suggestions for his name.

Young Charlie from Seaford thinks Blinky Bill is the perfect fit.

Kawsar from Northcote suggested Najmi, which means shining star in Arabic and Manasha, from Thomastown, thought of Rixie, in honour of the ranger who first brought him to our attention.

What would you name this koala?

Park ranger Matthew Rixon may look like a big burly tradesman. But the 31-year-old, father of four admits he melts at the mere sight of a baby koala.

Mr Rixon regularly acts as a volunteer ranger at Wildlife Wonderland on the Bass Highway, which has a baby koala that has only recently emerged from its mother’s pouch after being born four months ago.

And the park would like your help in naming their little star attraction.

Put you imagination into overdrive then send us your suggestions.

They will be published online and Wildlife Wonderland staff will take a vote on what they think is the best one.

They will provide a free annual pass for the winner to visit the park and see why Mr Rixon thinks it is so special.

He has volunteered at at the park for the past four years, helping with the myriad of animals from wallabies through to wombats.

But he said working with the baby koala was the highlight.

“The new koala is gorgeous,” he said. “Just looking at it brings feelings of great happiness and peace. It is very special to be involved with such little animals and to help them be rehabilitated in some cases into the wild.”

These emu chicks would be lost without their dad. Unlike most species, the emu gives dad the chick-rearing duties after mum lays the eggs.

Eight tiny birds came into the world last week at Wildlife Wonderland in the southern Victorian town of Bass, the first emus hatched at the nature park for at least 18 years.

Wonderland owner Jason Watson said the father was doing a great job of looking after his chicks.

WILDLIFE authorities are concerned about an increase in the illegal trade in reptiles and birds after four incidents of alleged theft and illegal possession in Melbourne this week.

Twenty animals have been seized and eight people convicted of selling or possessing exotic reptiles in Victoria since July last year. In the past week, illegal reptiles were discovered in a vehicle at Heathcote and at a Kilsyth property.

The finds followed the alleged theft of $10,000 of reptiles, including a freshwater crocodile, from the Wildlife Wonderland park at Bass last weekend. A 23-year-old Frankston man was later charged with theft and burglary.

Department of Sustainability and Environment officers are also investigating reports that crimson rosellas, sulphur-crested cockatoos and king parrots were captured from a popular hand-feeding site at Badger Weir, near Healesville, last weekend. DSE senior investigator of reptiles, Keith Larner, said a Croydon man was facing charges after police allegedly discovered three geckos taken from the wild in NSW when his vehicle was pulled over for a traffic offence at Heathcote on Tuesday.

Two exotic boa constrictors were also seized in a raid on a Kilsyth property on Wednesday night.

Mr Larner said there was an established illegal reptile trade in Victoria with links to the drug trade. Of those caught with illegal reptiles in their houses, 36 per cent were also found with illicit drugs, while 15 per cent had unlicensed or prohibited weapons.

Those in the illegal trade were generally men aged 18 to 35 who lived in areas such as Werribee, Geelong, Dandenong and the western suburbs of Melbourne, according to a DSE profile.

The department urged the public to report any suspicious activity or vehicles around wildlife habitats on 136 186.

A MAN will face a Melbourne court today charged over the theft of $20,000 worth of rare reptiles from a West Gippsland wildlife park on Sunday.

The man, 23, of south-suburban Frankston, will appear at the Frankston Magistrates Court charged with theft and burglary following a raid on Wildlife Wonderland at Bass, south-east of Melbourne.

Police said they found some of the reptiles about 5.30am (AEDT) yesterday when called to investigate reports of a man slumped over the steering wheel of a car in Frankston.

The reptiles included a 60cm-long freshwater crocodile, two children’s pythons, three bearded dragons and 47 blue-tongue lizards.

Park owner Jason Watson said he was relieved to get a call from police, but concerned about the condition the animals were in.

“The crocodile was nearly dead when we got down there (Frankston) this morning,” Mr Watson said yesterday.

“They (police) had him sitting in a bucket of cold water… and he had gone into a state which is like a hibernation before they die. So we had to stick him on a heat mat and warm him up slowly,” he said.

“I guarantee if we hadn’t got the crocodile back this morning, we would have lost him by now.”

Police found the 60-cm crocodile sitting on the front seat of the car next to the man, who was taken to Frankston Hospital. Police said he did not appear to have been bitten by any of the animals.

Mr Watson said a children’s python, two bearded dragons and about 15 blue-tongue lizards were still missing.

“The ones that have come back are the more high-maintenance ones like the crocodile,” he said. “We only got one of the snakes, the pregnant one is still missing, which is a concern.

“But definitely to have some of them back is a huge relief. I certainly don’t want to go through this again. I have been a very stressed young man.”

Rare reptiles have been stolen from us here at Wildlife Wonderland. The haul taken early today from storage tanks here at Wildlife Wonderland at Bass, south-east of Melbourne, included a 60-centimetre freshwater crocodile, two Children’s pythons and three bearded dragons, all requiring an owner’s licence.

Also taken were 47 blue-tongue lizards, our entire stock.

Our proprietor, Jason Watson, said the thefts, worth up to $20,000, were discovered about 8.45am (AEDT).

“I feel physically sick,” said Mr Watson, “It’s like they have stolen my kids.”

He said the education centre was opened days after Steve Irwin was fatally pierced in the chest by a stingray barb while snorkelling at the Great Barrier Reef on September 4 last year.

“We opened it after Steve Irwin died to take up his legacy,” Mr Watson said.

“We have tried to take over his passion for the reptiles.”

He said school children scheduled to attend the education centre in the next few weeks would be devastated.

Victoria Police spokeswoman Creina (Creina) O’Grady said it was unlikely the thieves would attempt to pass the reptiles on to pet shops.

“They may go to private collectors,” Sergeant O’Grady said. “They may even be destined for overseas.”