‘Koala whisperer’ and Netflix star Izzy Bee, the 11-year-old who has a special bond with the cute Australian marsupials
- In the new Netflix series Izzy’s Koala World, Izzy Bee helps her veterinary surgeon mother take care of hundreds of koala bears on Australia’s Magnetic Island
- The family hope the series can remind viewers of how precious wildlife is, especially following devastating brush fires that recently swept through Australia
Like a lot of young people, 11-year-old Izzy Bee has a special bond with animals. Unlike a lot of young people, she shares it with one of the planet’s most cuddly – koalas.
“It’s hard to explain,” she says from her home in Australia. “When I’m with them, it’s just sort of like really calming. They sort of understand me in a way.”
Izzy is showing that unusual bond in the new Netflix series Izzy’s Koala World, which follows the girl as she helps her veterinary surgeon mother and takes care of the tree-climbing marsupials. It premieres on September 15.
“They all seem to gravitate towards her,” says her mum, Ali. “They’re wild animals, they’re terrified. They need that calming, gentle, quiet, loving presence.”
Izzy and her family live on Magnetic Island, which sits off the east coast of Australia and is home to hundreds of koalas. The animals rely on the eucalyptus tree for both habitat and food. They sleep for 18 to 22 hours a day.