Oldest Koala in Japan Dies at 18 Years Old

JAKARTA - Japan's oldest koala died at the age of 18, equivalent to about 90 human years, according to a tourist facility in western Hyogo Prefecture on Friday.

Awaji Farm Park England Hill, on Awaji Island, announced that the female koala named Nozomi died on Wednesday due to indigestion due to old age.

The management issued a statement saying, "He is a loving koala who loves to be carried and is a symbol of presence in this park. We are sad, although we are happy that we can send him off without regret," as reported by Kyodo News (10/7).

Nozomi was born in March 2008 at Yanchep National Park in Western Australia. She was brought to the park in March 2011 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of a friendship agreement between Hyogo and Western Australia, according to the facility.

Many tourists have visited him since he became the oldest koala in Japan in November 2022.

The park will install a flower offering place at the Koala House starting July 18 for an unspecified period.

With Nozomi's death, Daichi, a 12-year-old male koala kept at the same facility, is now the oldest koala in Japan, according to the park.