Oz goes to Palm Beach

Lot of news coverage about me

2010-05-15T21:48:00.000-07:00

Television, newspaper and online stories about me?

I was really surprised that there was so much interest in just a little ole koala.

I have to admit it was a bit frightening at first to see all those television cameras but the folks here at the Palm Beach Zoo made me feel very comfortable and the media seemed to really enjoy meeting me.

Here's one video:

Great Party - thanks everyone!

2010-05-15T21:44:00.000-07:00

Wow! Nearly 200 people came to the Palm Beach Zoo for a big party Friday night sponsored by Outback.

I had a chance to meet everyone and we'll post some pictures as soon as they become available.

And many thanks to all those who made contributions to the Palm Beach Zoo to help support the needs of the important animal collection at the zoo.

For now, I'm staying at the Animal Care Complex. I expect to be in my public exhibit on June 25.

I look forward to seeing all the visitors to the Palm Beach Zoo.

I've arrived and it's great

2010-05-10T09:08:00.000-07:00

Getting to the Palm Beach Zoo was easy. From what I've seen so far, this is a great place with great people.

And, the sheila I've been talking to in California has agreed to come here.

I can't tell you how excited I am.

Plus, the zoo is going to have a party for me....more later.

Crossing the Florida line

2010-05-04T08:15:00.000-07:00

I'm on my way....I've crossed the Florida line and expect to be at the Palm Beach Zoo soon. I'll let you know more soon.

Doesn't it make you feel good!

Otter Pups make debut at the Palm Beach Zoo

2010-04-27T12:55:00.000-07:00

Palm Beach Post photo

Wyatt and Jessie think they are the hot new act in town....well they can hold that title for a little longer but they better be ready to step aside when I get there.

I'm packing my bags and planning to come the zoo very soon....more on that later.

Here's a story and video of Wyatt and Jessie:

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/baby-otters-make-splash-at-palm-beach-zoo-629518.html

Earth Days was a huge success at the Palm Beach Zoo

2010-04-23T12:16:00.000-07:00

There are very generous supporters of the Palm Beach Zoo.

Two of the biggest supporters are Melvin and Claire Levine who have donated $4 million to the zoo's Animal Care Complex. In the picture above they are being thanked by West Palm Beach Mayor Lois Frankel who gave them a key to the city.

And I hear they can't wait until I arrive at the Palm Beach Zoo....it's getting closer.

Here is a story that appeared in the Shiny Sheet:

http://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/levines-donate-1m-endowment-to-palm-beach-zoo-602759.html

And here is a story that appeared in The Palm Beach Post:

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/palm-beach-couple-donates-1-million-for-animal-602211.html

What are you doing for Earth Day?

2010-04-19T12:50:00.000-07:00

Many of the animals at the Palm Beach Zoo are on endangered or threatened lists.

Unfortunately, the numbers of koalas in Australia have dwindled so much that I fear many of my relatives and friends may be in jeopardy.

The good news is that there are places like the Palm Beach Zoo that work hard to protect endangered animals and the zoo is deeply involved in conservation efforts around the world.

Hopefully when I get to the Palm Beach Zoo I'll meet a young sheila and we can start a family. Every new joey raised at the zoo increases the chance of koalas surviving.

You can help by donating to help me get to Palm Beach...and please support all the great work that they do to help the many endangered species at the Palm Beach Zoo.

Happy Earth Day!!

Getting to the Palm Beach Zoo.

2010-04-14T13:26:00.000-07:00

Still working on arrangements for coming to the Palm Beach Zoo.

Looking forward to it mates. And I've got my eye on this California sheila who is also thinking about moving to Palm Beach.

She's a bit of a diva I hear. My mates there wonder if she'll be interested in a common mate like me.

Wonder what kind of Koala she likes?

Look at my picture...Aunt Charlotte says I have rugged good looks.

Maya the celebrity jaguar gets a physical

2010-04-09T15:12:00.000-07:00

Take a look at this video mates....it appears that when I go to the Palm Beach Zoo I'm going to get great care.

I've heard a lot about this "Celebrity Jaguar." Maya better be prepared to step out the limelight when this handsome Aussie gets there.

Breakfast with the Bunny

2010-04-05T13:16:00.000-07:00

I hear that hundreds had fun during one of four Breakfasts with the Bunny at the Palm Beach Zoo.

What a great way to celebrate Easter.

Maybe when I get there we can have Breakfast with Oz.

Earth Day at the Palm Beach Zoo

2010-04-01T18:12:00.000-07:00

All my friends know that April 22 is Earth Day. It's a great time to remember that wildlife around the world - including my fellow Koalas - are in danger of disappearing.

What really impresses me about the Palm Beach Zoo is that they celebrate Earth Day every day.

No foolin!

May plans to move to Palm Beach are taking shape. I hope to have more details to share soon.

Fredo's wild ride

2010-03-24T11:14:00.000-07:00

Saw this story about Fredo who was kidnapped and put into the trunk of a car that later crashed.

Life is tough enough for the dwindling population of Koalas....another reason to look forward to moving the Palm Beach Zoo.

http://www.portnews.com.au/news/local/news/general/koala-kidnapper-fined/1780398.aspx

Cousin Billy

2010-03-18T10:25:00.000-07:00

I got a picture of Aunt Charlotte and cousin Billy.

He's a couple of years younger than I am. Uncle Bob says Billy already has an eye for the ladies.

I saw a young girl on KoalaMatch who seems very interesting. She lives in California.

Would she be interested in moving to Florida? It might be hard for her to give up the glamour of California.

What happens when you tickle a koala?

2010-03-12T13:11:00.000-08:00

Nothing very exciting planned for this weekend.

Still thinking about my move to the Palm Beach Zoo. Aunt Charlotte said she knows someone who she thinks would be the perfect girlfriend for me.

I saw a couple of girls on eKoala and Koalamatch that seem interesting but I'm feeling a bit shy lately.

Anyway, a friend sent me this video that he found at the Los Angeles Times blog L.A. Unleashed. The video was taken at the Featherday Wildlife Park in Sydney, Australia.

See what happens when you tickle a koala.

Being a dad

2010-03-10T13:53:00.000-08:00

When I see pictures like this, it reminds me how important it is for me to find the right girl so I can start a family.

I'm looking forward to visiting the Palm Beach Zoo to see if it can be my new home.

Does Oz have two thumbs?

2010-03-08T15:11:00.000-08:00

A visitor asked me whether it is true that I have two thumbs..

"Do koalas really have two thumbs?" she asked me.

I just smiled.

Here's a video of one of my friends, see if you can find the answer.

Wow a story about me?

2010-03-04T11:13:00.000-08:00

The NBC station in West Palm Beach - WPTV-5 - did a story about me during their Wednesday newscast.

They found out that I've decided to move to the Palm Beach Zoo. And they seemed very excited about it.

And - they know I have to find my true love if I'm going to stay there.

Hope it all works out.

You can see the video and a print version of the story here - http://bit.ly/asVZge

What to do

2010-03-03T07:22:00.000-08:00

Uncle Bob sent me a couple of photos of sheilas he thinks would be a perfect match for me.

He found them on eKoala and KoalaMatch.com

So if I go to Florida I have to find someone who would also want to go to Florida.

I need to visit Palm Beach County next month and look around and find out what it's like there.

No hamsters allowed

2010-03-02T13:28:00.000-08:00

I'm being encouraged to consider the Palm Beach Zoo where I hear they have a fascinating collection of animals including some of my friends from Australia.

I'm glad things have changed since Joey lived in Palm Beach. The town became so incensed about Joey's romps around the island that the council passed an ordiance forbidding all animals on the islands except dogs, cats, parrots, parakeets and canaries. No hamsters, no rabbits, no kangeroos.

Joey's family, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Brooks III spent years fighting the law in court. The battle to keep Joey made him a national celebrity and he eventually found a home at the Palm Beach Zoo.

It's fun learning about Florida.

Joey on Palm Beach social scene

2010-03-01T11:47:00.000-08:00

It turns out that Joey the Kangaroo lived with a very prominent Palm Beach family - Mr. and Mrs. Walter Brooks III - with their two children, a poodle and two rabbits.

One day, unknown to the Brooks family, Joey got out of the yard and hopped several blocks away to the oceanfront Coral Beach club where a cocktail party was underway.

Palm Beach cops found Joey hopping down County Road.

Joey used to ride in the frontseat of Mrs. Brooks Thunderbird.

All this celebrity led to a big fight between the town and Brooks family.

Wonder how the town feels about Koalas?

Need to find out more about Joey.

Famous Australians in Palm Beach

2010-02-26T12:48:00.000-08:00

Aunt Charlotte told me about Joey the Kangaroo who became a celebrity after he was banned by the Town of Palm Beach.

She said he became so well known that there two Life magazine stories about him - (I think Life must have been a big magazine).

According to Aunt Charlotte, Joey could be seen running down the street. He even crashed a cocktail party.

I'll find out more about Joey and share it later.

Florida is sounding more and more interesting.

Going to Palm Beach

2010-02-24T17:55:00.000-08:00

Uncle Bob says I should visit Palm Beach next month to take a look around and see what they have to offer there.

It's becoming increasing important for me to find the perfect sheila and begin our family of joeys.

This new report from the University of Queensland in Australia is frightening.

I'm going to check eKoala.com and KoalaMatch.com to see if I can find the right koala girl for me.

And I need to see what I can find out about places to stay and see in Palm Beach...the Ritz Carlton?

Helping one of my mates

2010-02-22T15:53:00.000-08:00

Last year it became so blazingly hot in Australia that some of my mates had to ask for water. These people were very kind. Of course it makes me wonder just how hot will it be in Palm Beach?

Miami? Orlando?

2010-02-19T10:46:00.000-08:00

I see someone is suggesting I check out Miami and Orlando.

Maybe I should include Tampa.

Something to think about this weekend.

Are Koala's allowed?

2010-02-16T15:12:00.000-08:00

Aunt Charlotte said she heard there is a new park in West Palm Beach. I wonder if Koalas can go there?

Are there any Koalas in Palm Beach? Would I be the first?

Would I be welcome?

I wonder if I can find someone to go there with me.

Some frightening news about my friends

2010-02-15T12:59:00.000-08:00

Uncle Bob just sent me a very scary story about what is happening to some of my Koala friends.

Associate Professor Clive McAlpine from the University of Queensland in Australia says more must be done to protect koalas from extinction. "The situation in south-east Queensland is extremely serious," he said.

"The population has decreased in some parts by 50 per cent in the last 10 years. Certainly in that Koala Coast area near Redlands there may be a few populations that are hanging on but the overall trend is one of decline."

Uncle Bob says if I go to Palm Beach and find my soulmate we could help create new Koala families.

See the story Uncle Bob sent me here: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/02/09/2814484.htm

Lonely on Valentine's Day

2010-02-15T11:16:00.000-08:00

No date.

I'm beginning to think Uncle Bob may be right. I should move to Palm Beach.

I need to find out more about what it's like there.

Happy Valentine's Day

2010-02-14T13:30:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone has a happy Valentine's Day!!!

Will I get a date for Valentine's Day?

2010-02-10T20:28:00.000-08:00

Uncle Bob called me again today.

"Ya gotta date mate?"

Uncle Bob and Aunt Charlotte love Valentine's Day. He usually brings her a bouquet of fresh eucalyptus leaves. Aunt Charlotte always acts surprised and Uncle Bob tells her that she will always be his Valentine.

I told Uncle Bob that I have date but I don't yet.

I still have time, I think.

I sure hope I'm not alone in the trees on Valentine's Day.

My first move

2010-02-08T13:31:00.000-08:00

I've been thinking about moving for quite some time. I love where I live now but frankly, it's hard to find a girlfriend here.

I've tried the best dating sites eKoala.com and KoalaMatch.com.

No luck.

My Uncle Bob dropped by from Australia and he said "Mate you need to move to Palm Beach...that's where all the sheilas are. You're a good looking lad - go!"

Of course that's easier said than done.

How can I get to Palm Beach?

And should I really go?