Controversial animal activity sparks astonishing change: 'Really frowned upon'
An Aussie sanctuary claims to be changing hearts and minds about a much maligned creature.
Whether tourists should be allowed to cuddle Australia’s wildlife at sanctuaries and zoos divides opinion. After a group from Sydney travelled to regional NSW to cuddle captive wombats and uploaded a video of the encounter to social media, some viewers thought the activity appeared “cute” and “fun”, but others thought the marsupials should have been left on the ground.
"Wombats are not cats or dogs and are not just toys to be picked up," one person said. "This is wildlife, not a pet," another said.
Wildlife laws differ around the country but in NSW it’s permissible to cuddle wombats kept at zoos. The owner of Taralga Wildlife Park, where the wombats were filmed, told Yahoo News cuddling native animals isn’t a cause he particularly wants to champion, but thinks a lot can be gained from touching his wildlife — rather than just viewing it at a distance.
John Stafford thinks opinions about wombats have shifted in his community since he opened the park. Some farmers have even changed their minds about the marsupials after cuddling them.
“One local farmer who was pretty old-school came with his grandchildren and he was amazed by them,” Stafford said.
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The park is located in the Goulburn region where some farmers despise wombats because of a perception they destroy fences, dig holes that trip up cattle and horses, and are a danger on the roads.
“In some areas they're really frowned upon and shot regularly. But people change when they realise they’re not just some lumbering, pathetic-looking thing on the road, they're really personable and lovely animals,” Stafford said.
"People come here and they leave absolutely thrilled."
Why some animal welfare advocates oppose koala cuddles
While it’s legal for zoo visitors to pick up wombats in NSW, allowing them to do the same with koalas is banned. But over the border in Queensland, it’s perfectly legal to hold both species.
Cuddling koalas is opposed by charity World Animal Protection, which published a report in 2022 claiming some koalas in Queensland were forced against their will to interact with tourists.
“I saw some cases where the handlers had to really just peel them off the branches; they clearly didn't want to go,” author Dr Jen Ford told Yahoo News. “You might have the odd animal that enjoys an encounter, and certainly some venues may say it’s enrichment, but is it really?”
Zoo association backs animal handling encounters
Politicians regularly cuddle native animals for photo opportunities. Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek enjoyed a koala cuddle in 2023, and then Prime Minister Scott Morrison was filmed beaming as he handled a wombat in 2020. Visitors to Australia from former US President Barack Obama to British Royal Sarah Ferguson have enjoyed koala encounters.
The Zoo and Aquarium Association Australasia (ZAA) argues interactions between humans and animals can help visitors connect with and understand wildlife. Its members need to be able to demonstrate such encounters incorporate educational or conservation elements.
Regulations for each species of animal are constructed around the Five Domains model, which assesses welfare around nutrition, environment, health, behaviour, and mental health.
“Animal-visitor interactions must allow the animals involved to display their natural behaviours, avoid unnecessary stress, and provide options for the animal to opt in and/or opt out of an interaction,” it told Yahoo News.
“Animal-visitor interactions are extremely popular with zoo and aquarium visitors, and many visitors report that these interactions help them to learn more about the species and how to support their conservation.”
State set to review animal welfare laws
In NSW, regulations around cuddling animals were created decades ago. The Department of Primary Industries told Yahoo News the requirements for handling animals at sanctuaries reflect zoo industry animal welfare concerns, but they were not based on studies that measure cortisol – a stress hormone that’s measured in farm animal welfare studies.
“The prescribed standards for exhibited animals in NSW were developed using the best available scientific evidence at the time, in consultation with industry and academic experts, reviews of publications such as husbandry manuals and Australian and overseas regulatory requirements,” it told Yahoo News.
“The prescribed standards were informed by additional consultation with industry groups and were endorsed by the NSW Exhibited Animals Advisory Committee, a statutory committee which advises the Secretary of the NSW Department of Primary Industries.”
In 2023, the NSW Government committed to improving the framework around animal welfare. It will include a review of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 (POCTAA).
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