Stills, broll and interviews: https://dams.wwf.org.au/resourcespace?c=6636&k=2314b7fbaf
By any measure, Little Watego has had an extraordinary life for a young koala.
He was found in August 2025 at the bottom of a cliff near Byron Bay’s Little Wategos Beach – hence his name.
Pictures of the three year old staring out to sea went viral. But he was not relaxing by the ocean. Little Watego needed urgent care. His sternum was bruised suggesting a fall and he had ingested sea water which inflamed his lungs.
Wildlife rescuers Mark Badgery from Wires, and Richard Nicholas from Friends of the Koala, climbed down onto the rocks to save Little Watego.
Mark recognised him from distinct nose markings as the young male he’d photographed being terrorised by the resident alpha “Arnie”. It’s thought Little Watego is the bullying victim in this dramatic video posted to YouTube by Sean O’Shea.
The youngster was likely looking for new territory and tumbled into the sea. He was lucky to survive.
Escape artist: Before his cliff ordeal Little Watego slid down a palm leaf to evade the resident alpha male Arnie © Mark Badgery
His plight drew attention to major problems for the famous koalas on the Byron Bay headland. The eucalypts in their small patch of forest are over browsed, indicating there are not enough food trees.
Adding to the pressure, each year thousands of tourists flock to the headland hoping to see a koala. Many get too close causing stress.
But leaving to find new habitat is not easy. The headland koalas are boxed in on most sides by the ocean, housing, and roads. Getting hit by vehicles is a constant threat.
The solution – a wildlife corridor
On 29 July 2026, thousands of trees were planted in Arakwal National Park to extend habitat south for koalas dispersing from the headland.
Seedlings were planted in a tree-less area that has not recovered after sand mining. It’s designed to help koalas disperse south from the headland © WWF-Australia Property Shot Photography
Bangalow Koalas organised the community event in consultation with the Arakwal National Park joint management committee which includes representatives of the Native Title Traditional Owners.
Left: Arakwal-Bundjalung man and National Parks Ranger Norm Graham and Bangalow Koalas President Linda Sparrow. © WWF-Australia Property Shot Photography
Representatives from Australia Post took part in the tree planting event as a proud supporter of WWF-Australia’s Koalas Forever program. Together with Arakwal National Park Rangers, students from Byron Bay High, and other volunteers they planted 2200 trees. Contractors took the project to 3,700 seedlings in the ground.
Left to right: Nicole Forrester, Chief Regenerative Officer, WWF-Australia, Margaret Lama, Postal Services Officer, Australia Post. Tanya Pritchard, Koala Recovery, WWF-Australia. Nicky Tracey, General Manager of Community and Stakeholder Engagement, Australia Post. © Patrick Hamilton WWF-Australia
Nicky Tracey, General Manager of Community and Stakeholder Engagement said Australia Post is proud to be expanding support in the Northern Rivers region as part of its partnership with WWF-Australia.
Australia Post and WWF-Australia have been in partnership since 2023, with a shared goal to protect koalas and inspire positive action for nature.
This year, we are excited to strengthen our support for WWF’s Koalas Forever Program, with a focus on restoring habitat and connecting wildlife corridors in the key Northern Rivers region.
Key initiatives including community tree planting days are a great way that we can come together as a community to make a positive and meaningful impact to support nature regeneration.
Nicole Forrester, Chief Regenerative Officer, WWF-Australia said:
Little Watego’s story is a powerful reminder of why habitat matters. When habitat becomes fragmented, koalas are forced to travel further and spend more time on the ground. This increases their exposure to danger.
My hope is that in years to come, this area will be part of a thriving corridor of native vegetation, supporting koalas and the many other species that share their forest homes. But I also hope that people see something bigger.
Today’s planting demonstrates what is possible when conservation organizations, businesses, First Nations partners, and local communities come together around a shared vision for caring for Country.
Regeneration is about more than restoring trees. It’s about restoring healthy relationships between people and nature, listening deeply to those who have cared for Country for generations, and creating a future where nature, communities, and wildlife can thrive together.
Norm Graham, Arakwal-Bundjalung man and National Parks ranger, said:
These plantings will help connect koala friendly vegetation between Cape Byron State Conservation Area and Arakwal National Park by providing food and reducing the pressure faced at the Pass and Cape.
Koalas have been observed in Arakwal NP moving to and from the Cape and these plantings will help future survival by providing a valuable food source in their journey across Country.
Our Country’s had a lot of impacts over time. Where we’re standing today has been impacted by sand mining.
It is a little bit of a scar on the landscape, and today is about healing that scar.
Linda Sparrow, President, Bangalow Koalas, said:
The sight of Little Watego on the rocks was so distressing. That poor koala could’ve been washed out to sea.
This planting is because Little Watego had nowhere to go, no trees to find.
Koalas from the area known as The Pass on Cape Byron are under enormous pressure. Their trees are over browsed; they’re under the constant threat of car strikes and getting harassed by tourists and people in general.
This planting will give The Pass koalas somewhere to disperse to so they can feed and breed – critical for the survival of Byron koalas.
A new life for Little Watego
Little Watego was nursed back to health at the Northern Rivers Koala Hospital, run by Friends of the Koala.
Little Watego being examined by Dr Kate Thomas at FOK’s Northern Rivers Koala Hospital © Friends of the Koala
On 6 September 2025, Little Watego was taken south to less populated forest at Broken Head.
The young male was placed on a large tree within an enclosure so he could be initially monitored.
When carers returned to the enclosure the next day there was no sign of Little Watego. He escaped Arnie the alpha male. He escaped death after plunging into the sea. Stands to reason he would escape an enclosure.
But this time he’s enjoying a new home and fresh start.
WWF and Australia Post are encouraging Australians to take action to protect koalas and restore nature by becoming koala champions https://wwf.org.au/koalachampion/
