The koala has arrived in the Netherlands and is now at the Ouwehands Zoo |

River District – Special Day for Owehands Zoo. Today the park welcomes three koalas, for whom a special enclosure has been built. They are the only koalas in the Netherlands and also the first koalas to set foot on Dutch soil.

Three new residents
Koalas are kept in zoos around the world so that the management program can contribute to maintaining genetically healthy populations and preserving the species. Koalas are listed on the IUCN Red List as “Vulnerable.” Australia itself has classified this species as “threatened” after its numbers declined rapidly due to bushfires and floods in recent years.

On April 4, a zookeeper left the Ouihands Zoo for the San Diego Zoo to pick up a koala. After a few weeks away from her carers, she returned today with three koalas who will move to a brand new home at Owehands Zoo. The KLM plane landed this morning at 8:45am with these special passengers. KLM Cargo previously transported giant pandas from China to the Netherlands in 2017 with the destination being Ouwehands Zoo. They are also a unique species that can only be seen in this zoo.

Specialized means of transportation
KLM Cargo specializes in the responsible and animal-friendly transport of various species of animals and employs dedicated staff with the knowledge and skills to guide the animals on their journey in the best possible way. KLM is one of the few airlines that has its own pet hotel in Schiphol. It is fully equipped to care for the animals before, during and after the trip. In a protected environment, specially trained animal handlers ensure that the animals travel as comfortably and safely as possible. The animals were removed from the aircraft hold upon arrival by KLM Cargo and transported to the KLM Animal Hotel. Here the animals were disinfected and a health check was performed. The road is then clear for the final part of the journey, from Amsterdam to the Ouihands Zoo in Rhenen.

The animals will now recover from the trip and get used to the new environment and care. Koalia will be opened on April 25, 2024, and from that moment the koala will be on display for visitors to the Ouwehands Zoo. Photo: Ouwehands Zoo / KLM / KLM Cargo