Rescued koalas Jody and Myka accepted into world-first koala breeding program

Port Macquarie NSW - Koala Conservation Australia is delighted to announce that Jody and her joey Myka, rescued after being hit by a car earlier this year in June 2025, have been officially accepted into our world-first Wild Koala Breeding Program at Guulabaa, Place of Koala in the Cowarra State Forest.

The mother-and-joey duo captured millions of hearts across the world when they were reunited after their accident and subsequent traumatic separation. 

You can see Jody and Myka’s reunion here.

Jody and Myka were carefully assessed by KCA’s Wildlife Vet Astrid Van Aggelen on arrival at the hospital, and spent several weeks in our rehabilitation yards being monitored for signs of internal injuries. While both made a remarkable recovery, releasing them back to the wild in the same location – their home range - was deemed too dangerous. In the space of just two weeks, six koalas were struck by cars in that area, with 3 not surviving — a stark reminder of the ongoing risks faced by wild populations.

Instead, Jody and Myka will now play a vital role in the future of their species. As part of the Wild Koala Breeding Program, they will live together in a large, natural enclosure that allows them to display and continue natural behaviours while contributing to critical conservation research and breeding efforts. 

As Myka is a similar age to our current cohort of joeys, she will be able to join them for future release once she is independent from mum and has passed her fitness assessment. This way we can ensure that she has the best chance of survival in the wild. Both Jody and Myka are settling in well and enjoy spending time resting up high in the canopy.

Koala Conservation Australia Wild Koala Breeding Manager Dr Kate Farquharson said:
“Jody and Myka’s story touched thousands of people, and we are thrilled to give them this chance at a safe and meaningful life. By becoming part of the Wild Koala Breeding Program, they will help us secure a future for koalas across Australia.”

The Wild Koala Breeding Program, the first of its kind anywhere in the world, is pioneering new approaches to conservation and aims to establish genetically diverse, healthy koala populations that can help safeguard the species against future threats.