Layla’s return home to rainforest at ecological park
Meet Layla the red-legged pademelon, who has been returned to the rainforest at the Sunshine Coast Ecological Park after months of care.
At the rainforest’s edge at the Sunshine Coast Ecological Park in Maleny, Layla the red-legged pademelon (Thylogale stigmatica) is rediscovering home.
Layla was found at the neighbouring Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve during heavy rainfall earlier this year, weighing in at just 300g.
After months of care, Layla has been released at the border of the Ecological Park site and Mary Cairncross, with plenty of rainforest habitat and far from any busy roads.
Now at over 2kg, the peppy pademelon is ready to take on the world and the Ecological Park provided an ideal release site, with natural shelter, food sources and nearby pademelons.
Licensed carer Rachel Connolly said it was so rewarding to return Layla to her natural habitat.
"I will miss her cute personality, but I’m so happy that she can explore her new environment," Rachel said.
The Sunshine Coast Ecological Park project is restoring ecosystems for wildlife like Layla.
Across the coming decades, it will also deliver places for play, sharing culture, research and learning on the 65-hectare former pasture site.
About the ecological park project
Unlike traditional parks, the Sunshine Coast Ecological Park considers people, wildlife, resources and vegetation equally, balancing recreation with ecological restoration.
As part of the project, the current cleared pasture site will be transformed over decades into a living laboratory for scientific study, cultural storytelling and learning.
It will be a place for our community to connect with nature and each other, while being part of the park’s restorative process along the way.
- Learn more about the Ecological Park and sign up for project news
- Explore more Ecological Park news on Our Sunshine Coast
More to explore as the ecological park evolves
Visit the project webpage to find out more about the project and subscribe for future project news updates.
Become a wildlife carer
Could you be a hero for native animals like Layla?
You can help care for wildlife in our Sunshine Coast Biosphere by volunteering with organisations like WILVOS or Wildcare.