Bumper crop of babies
THE Currumbin Ecovillage is hopping with excitement at a baby explosion of joeys and other wildlife.
Ecovillage spokeswoman Kerry Shepherd said the village, set in the scenic Currumbin Valley, was one of the most sustainable communities in the world.
‘‘There has been a significant increase in the amount of wildlife in the area – in fact, before the Ecovillage there wasn’t a sighting of a koala on this site,’’ Ms Shepherd said.
‘‘But now in the Highlands precinct, there have been a few spottings of koalas and one house even has a resident backyard koala regularly in a tree right in front of the loungeroom main window.
‘‘There are a couple of kangaroo mobs on site, the number ranges from about 40 to 50.
‘‘There are lots of little joeys. I recently saw one on his very first adventure out of the pouch.’’
Ms Shepherd said echidnas were also seen regularly, and platypus could be spotted in the Currumbin Creek.
She said having no dogs and cats in the village meant the wildlife had flourished.
‘‘The kids just love seeing the kangaroos all the time and think of them as pets in lots of ways,’’ she said.
‘‘They have the wildlife so close by – in their back yards, accessible and enjoyable to watch.’’