Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Friday 4 January 1952, page 1
Koalas To Go To U.S.
For Film j
Permission has been
p\en b\ the Chief Secretan s Department for four koalas to be taken to Holewood for si\ months to be used in the making of a film,
Botans Ba> "
The koilas ire expected to leave Sydney next Sun da> morninc h> Pan Amcricin Stiato Clipper
1hc\ will he kept at the San Diego (California) Zoo
Australnn actor Peter Pagan will make his Holly
v ood debut in the film and Australnn bom John Farrow «ill direct it
A spokesman for the Chief Secretar) Mr Clive Evatt <aid Paramount Pictures had applied for pcimusion to take i c kodhs to the U S
Special amngements have been mide for the transpor
lation of the koalas he slid
LONG PREPARATION An A A P message from Hollywood slid the director ot the zoo Mrs Belle Bench ley always wanted to add koalas to her collection of animals
The mess ige quotes a Para mount studio spokesman as asmg Mrs Benchley had bien preparing for this day for 10 years
She had planted the correct species of eucalyptus trees un 11 she now had 2 000
She has been growing 'hese trees for moic than 20 \ears importing seeds from
Australi) and gathcnng others from different parts of Call fornn Mid the spokesman
Because of Mrs Benchley!, foresight ind a strong recom mendition from the chairman of the Taronga Pirk Zoo Trust Mr E J Hallstrom ne Government has cased Us e\port ban to allow the koalas -tso males and two females -to go to Hollywood
The spokcsrmn quoted Mrs Benchley as saying the Koalas would be the greatest animal stars of all time not
orm in the film but zoologi
ColK
CVRE ON JOURNEY Mr Hallstrom said in Syd »ey last night the koalas ¡jould be housed m special wes during the plane trip
Branches of gum leaves «ould be kept fresh in water w the koahs to eat on the
lourney
Mr Hallstrom said he »ould be at Mascot airport '«J Sunday to m tke sure the 'Mías were properly accom "Mated on the plane
"the position on the plane , »ot suitable off they will "me he siid
The four of them were «i and reared on my pi o , ('> at Morn \nlc where
j t\e|um leaves will bo
i