Animal Diaries Archive

What's in a name? (Part 2)

28 July 2006

So it’s that time of year and the koala keepers are busy deciding on (arguing over!) names for our precious new additions. So far we have Matilda and Mackellar, Oprah and Ellen and Dewdrop and Mist. Can you recognise the themes (e.g. the talk show queens)? We also have three other expecting mums - Kelly, Molly, and Flossy - and boy do the lists next to their names look interesting. Last week it was finally confirmed that Kelly was carrying a boy, who happens to have a very striking face and is really in my opinion, very attractive. I sat there thinking about names and quietly suggested “What about Slater?” (I was a bit embarrassed really, as I have only been a member of the crew for a few months and didn’t feel that I had earned the right to pick out names just yet). Kelly then looks up “It’s perfect, I love it”. I’ll admit that I got a bit teary at this and felt very proud to have given such a beautiful boy a name that has such a famous background. I only hope that young Slater can one day meet his famous namesake.

Over the next few months we will be watching all of our joeys grow. Our final two will soon make themselves known, be given their own unique names and grow up; and before we know it we will be waiting on the arrival of our next batch of youngsters. But me, I’ll be sitting back content in the knowledge that I’ll always have a special bond with a gorgeous young koala and I hope that in the years to come Slater and I can have many happy experiences together. So when you come to the Zoo make sure you head to Koala Island and check out the gorgeous koalas down there... and if you see a spunky young male, blow him a kiss and wish him good luck!

Krysta