koala Mullaya (Foto: Christiane Krönke)” decoding=”async” srcset=”https://www.zoo-dresden.de/files/2026/01/Koala_Mullaya_Christiane-Kroenke_Zoo-dresden-400×278.jpg 400w, https://www.zoo-dresden.de/files/2026/01/Koala_Mullaya_Christiane-Kroenke_Zoo-Dresden-1024×712.jpg 1024w, https://www.zoo-dresden.de/files/2026/01/Koala_Mullaya_Christiane-Kroenke_Zoo-Dresden-525×365.jpg 525w, https://www.zoo-dresden.de/files/2026/01/Koala_Mullaya_Christiane-Kroenke_Zoo-Dresden.jpg 1900w” data-sizes=”(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px”/> It is with profound sadness that we share teh news of Mullaya’s passing, a beloved koala who resided with us for many years. The difficult decision too humanely euthanize Mullaya was made yesterday,January 8,2026,after a period of declining health. This event serves as a poignant reminder of the delicate balance of animal care and the importance of recognizing when compassion dictates letting go.
Understanding Mullaya’s Journey and Health Decline
Throughout the past year, Mullaya experienced a consistent loss of weight, despite intensive supplemental feeding with specialized formulas and eucalyptus puree. Initially, veterinarians attributed this to his advancing age – 14 years, a respectable lifespan for a koala - and regular health check-ups showed no concerning abnormalities. However, as the rate of weight loss accelerated in recent weeks, accompanied by increasing weakness and a diminishing appetite, a deeper investigation became necessary.
To alleviate his suffering, we made the compassionate choice to euthanize him. Subsequent radiographic studies, conducted under anesthesia, revealed a previously undetected alteration in his skull, suspected to be a jaw tumor. This discovery strongly supported the decision, and a pathology examination is now underway to determine the precise cause of his illness.
