The Wildlife Habitat and local residents have donated 200 soft toy koalas to a Tsunami affected kindergarten in northern Japan.

The Koalas will go to the children at a small Kindergarten run by the Soto Zen religion in their Daiouji Temple (大雄寺) in the heavily affected Minami Sanriku region. The Koalas have been donated by the visitors and staff of the Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas, each with its own personal message.

Since the Tsunami the numbers of participants at the kindergarten has dropped from 150 to about 85, these little furry animals could put a big smile on some Japanese kids’ faces.

Wildlife Habitat General Manager Garry Sullivan said “Having worked as a volunteer after the 2005 Tsunami in Sri Lanka, I have witnessed personally what human good will can do, this is why we have decided to send 200 Koalas to some of the kids in Japan, not just as a toy but more a reminder to them, that other people in the world do care and are feeling their pain.”

The Koalas will arrive in time for Christmas.

Famous for “Breakfast with the Birds”, The Wildlife Habitat is Australia’s leading wildlife experience, providing visitors with a chance to observe up close a huge range of flora and fauna.