Welcome to
The Koala Sanctuary
on Kangaroo Island
A 500-hectare refuge for 1,000 disease-free koalas, driving nationwide conservation of this iconic species.
The Koala Sanctuary
🌿 Our Mission – To safeguard koalas and their habitats through conservation, education and research
The Koala Sanctuary on Kangaroo Island is committed to securing the future of one of Australia's most iconic and threatened species.
Through innovative research, science-led rewilding, and long-term habitat restoration, we are creating a national opportunity, a refuge where koalas can thrive.
With your support, we are working to transform crisis into opportunity.
🌏 Our Vision - A refuge for today. A pathway for tomorrow.
We aim to become Australia's leading centre for koala conservation and recovery.
Koala Conservation: A Species at a Crossroads
Koalas are rapidly disappearing across much of Australia. Habitat destruction, disease, climate change, and bushfires have pushed them to the brink of extinction. Koalas in QLD, NSW, and ACT are now listed as Endangered — despite significant investment, numbers continue to fall.
Kangaroo Island offers a rare opportunity. It is home to one of the last large, disease-free koala populations. Although many were lost in the 2020 Black Summer fires, and others displaced by plantation harvesting, our sanctuary offers a thriving refuge — a chance to secure the future.
This healthy but genetically limited population holds the key to rewilding efforts, breeding programs, and broader recovery strategies.
With your support, we can ensure that koalas on Kangaroo Island not only thrive — but help save the species for generations to come.
Learn More
Research: The Path to a Secure Future
Your contribution supports our groundbreaking research, including genetic studies and habitat restoration, to secure a future for Australia's koalas.
We are:
- Addressing genetic vulnerability through rescue and breeding programs.
- Supporting translocation to regions where koalas are disappearing.
- Restoring and expanding koala habitat.
This science-led approach ensures long-term viability of koalas not just on Kangaroo Island, but across the nation. Together, we can turn the tide — providing koalas with a future where they not only survive, but flourish.
Eco-Tourism & Education: Connecting with Koalas and Nature
The Koala Sanctuary offers a rare chance to meet wild koalas up close and experience the regenerating beauty of a 500-hectare refuge. Walk among eucalypts, spot koalas, and learn about their lives and the conservation challenges they face.
Your visit directly supports:
- Habitat restoration
- Wildlife monitoring and research
- Education programs that inspire action
Whether you're taking a guided tour, participating in a workshop, or enjoying a peaceful walk, the sanctuary offers a space to reconnect with nature and be part of the solution.
Visit the Sanctuary❤️ Get Involved
Join our growing community of koala champions. Every donation and hour volunteered brings us closer to a secure future for koalas.
🌸 In Loving Memory of Susie Myers
The Koala Sanctuary is dedicated to the memory of Susie, whose lifelong love of koalas and Kangaroo Island inspired the vision behind this project.
From her first visit to Australia over three decades ago, Susie was captivated by the gentle koalas and the wild beauty of Kangaroo Island. She dreamed of a place where koalas would always have a safe home.
In honour of her memory, her husband Alan helped bring that dream to life — a sanctuary where people can witness conservation in action, learn about the challenges wildlife face, and be part of the solution.
This sanctuary is Susie's gift to the future — a lasting tribute to her love, her values, and her hope for a world where koalas will always have a home.
💖 Donate in Memory of SusieMeet the Founders
Karen Burke da Silva
Co-Founder & CEO
Karen brings expertise in habitat management and drives the sanctuary's restoration efforts.
Alan Noble
Co-Founder
Alan envisioned the sanctuary as a tribute and a beacon of hope for koala conservation.
Julian Beaman
Co-Founder & Director of Research
Julian focuses on research partnerships and advancing scientific understanding.
Susie Myers (Vale)
A Guiding Inspiration
Susie's lifelong love for animals and Kangaroo Island inspired the sanctuary's founding. Her advocacy highlighted koala welfare, and this sanctuary is a tribute to her passion.
📬 Contact Us
Have a question or want to partner with us? Fill out the form below and we'll be in touch.