Watching the devastating 2020 Australian bushfires unfold on news broadcasts from her UK home, Mel Bradman felt a powerful compulsion to help. The catastrophic fires had killed or injured an estimated 61,000 koalas among 143 million native mammals, creating an ecological disaster that demanded action.
Finding a furry soulmate
Bradman's journey began with what she describes as an extraordinary 'hookup site' - the Australian Koala Foundation's adoption programme. Faced with charming profiles of koalas like Floyd, 'a stylish poser', and Bobby, who 'loves cuddling', she found herself drawn to Jarrah, described as 'very affectionate' but also 'a bit of a troublemaker'. Her choice made, she began supporting him through monthly donations, receiving an adoption certificate that took pride of place on her kitchen wall.
The long-awaited meeting
For two years, Bradman followed Jarrah's progress from afar as he lived in a wildlife sanctuary near Perth. In January 2023, during a trip to Western Australia, she finally met her adopted marsupial. The park rangers expressed excitement about hosting one of the few 'koala mums' to visit in person, though Jarrah himself seemed less impressed. 'He was a lot bigger than I'd expected,' Bradman recalls of her first sight of him sleeping on his perch. 'Definitely not soft-toy size, but quite bear-like.'
The encounter didn't begin smoothly - the still-sleepy Jarrah bit her, serving as a sharp reminder that despite their cuddly appearance, koalas remain wild animals rather than pets. Yet moments later, he allowed Bradman to stroke him, particularly enjoying being rubbed between his shoulders. She watched him crawl around 'in a surprisingly nimble fashion' and witnessed koala politics in action when another koala, Kai, attempted to shove Jarrah off his perch in a fit of jealousy.
Rediscovering childhood wonder
Standing between the two koalas, Bradman experienced a powerful moment of recollection. She remembered her childhood obsession with koalas that began when she received a cuddly toy on her fifth birthday, preferring it above all other toys. 'Now, when I think of Jarrah, I am instantly connected to my first 'happy place',' she explains. 'Cynicism and discontent go out the window.' The experience reminded her how 'childhood joie de vivre can put a spring in your step, even as an adult.'
During her visit, Bradman learned fascinating facts about these ancient creatures, who evolved more than 25 million years ago. The name 'koala' comes from an Aboriginal word meaning 'no water' - they obtain most moisture from eucalyptus leaves. Their extensive sleeping habits (up to 21 hours daily) result from the enormous energy required to digest and detoxify these leaves.
Expanding conservation efforts
The encounter transformed Bradman's approach to animal welfare. Learning about koalas' vulnerability - not just to climate crisis and disease but to excessive land clearing that destroys their habitat - inspired her to expand her conservation efforts. Despite being protected since 1937 after millions were killed for the fur trade, koalas now face endangered status without specific laws to protect their habitats.
Bradman responded by signing up with additional animal charities, volunteering in their shops, completing an 80-mile RSPCA-sponsored run, and adopting more creatures. Her symbolic menagerie now includes 'a gorilla, a donkey, farm animals, a pangolin, two guide dogs and another koala' named Colt in Queensland. She has become the go-to person among friends for pet-sitting and veterinary visits.
Though her encounter with Jarrah was brief and the koala 'never wrote, never called and remained enigmatic', Bradman credits him with opening her eyes to something important she'd forgotten about herself and to the bigger picture of wildlife conservation. The experience proved that reconnecting with childhood passions can inspire meaningful action in adulthood.
