Lulu Bell and the Koala Joey Read Online Free

gum leaves.’
    Monica nodded. ‘They need plenty of trees to be healthy. If koalas are crowded together they get sick from disease.’
    â€˜That’s awful,’ said Lulu. She felt sad. Koalas were so cute and cuddly. Lulu hated to think of them being in danger.
    Using a syringe, Monica squeezed some medicine into the animal’s mouth. ‘Koalas are very territorial. They live their whole lives in the same home range. That’s why we always release them back to the very same spot where they were found.’
    Monica looked serious.
    â€˜Every year more and more trees are cleared,’ she said. ‘We’re worried that in some places, koalas may die out altogether.’
    â€˜That would be a disaster,’ said Zac.
    Dad held out the koala’s arm. Monica smeared ointment on it.
    â€˜It sure would be,’ said Monica. ‘Koalas are completely unique. There’s nothing like them anywhere else in the world.’
    When the wound had been bandaged, the mother koala was put back in the basket. Dad lifted out the joey.
    â€˜This joey is about seven months old,’ said Monica. ‘He’ll be getting a bit big for his mother’s pouch.’
    Dad handed the joey to Monica. He smiled at Lulu and Zac. ‘Koalas are marsupials, which means that their babiesare carried in a pouch. The joeys are not much bigger than a jellybean when they are born. They crawl their way into their mother’s pouch to suckle and grow.’
    Monica checked the joey thoroughly.
    â€˜He’s a handsome little boy,’ said Monica. ‘Luckily he’s perfectly fine. And I think his mum will be okay in a few days.’
    Monica lifted up the joey and cuddled him to her chest. ‘Would you like to stroke him?’ she asked Lulu and Zac.
    Lulu’s face shone with excitement. ‘I’d love to.’
    Lulu and Zac took it in turns to stroke the joey’s fur.

    â€˜It’s so soft,’ said Zac.
    Monica smiled at Zac and Lulu.
    â€˜Now comes the fun part,’ said Monica. ‘We give the koalas a name. Here at the koala hospital we always give the koalas two names. The first part of their name is always the area where they were found. That helps us remember where they come from.’
    â€˜So that would be Tarni,’ said Lulu.
    Monica nodded. ‘And the second part of the name is usually chosen after the person who rescued them.’
    Zac flashed a grin at Lulu. ‘Tarni Lulu!’
    Lulu felt a thrill of pleasure. The injured koala would be named after her.
    â€˜And what about our little joey?’ asked Dad.
    Lulu thought carefully. What should his name be? Then she had it. Lulu grinned. ‘Of course! His name is Tarni Zac!’

Chapter 8
Back at Tarni Beach
    The koalas were put away in an observation pen. Monica promised that she would ring Dad after a few days to let him know how they were. Dad drove Lulu and Zac back to Tarni Beach.
    As they pulled into the driveway of their beach house, Lulu could hear a familiar sound. The bulldozer was back at work. Even more of the trees had been knocked down.
    Lulu jumped out of the car and ran to take a look. Mr O’Connor was watching from the road.

    â€˜Stop,’ called Lulu. ‘Please stop.’
    Mr O’Connor crossed his arms and snorted with annoyance.
    â€˜We can’t stop,’ he said. ‘We’re on a tight schedule. The builders are coming to mark out the new houses.’
    â€˜But what about the koalas?’ asked Lulu.
    â€˜The koalas have gone,’ said Mr O’Connor. ‘The council sent someone out to check. They said it is okay to keep going.’
    Lulu felt tears well up in her eyes. It just wasn’t fair. The koalas would lose their home. Lulu sniffled but she didn’t want Mr O’Connor to see her cry. Lulu ran back inside.
    Dad came to look for her.
    â€˜There you are, sweetie,’ said Dad. ‘Everyone else has gone down