There’s growing pressure to ban koala cuddles in the state as a global animal rights group brands the practice as “cruel”. 

Holding koalas for photos has already been banned in NSW and Victoria but Queensland’s Environment Minister says there’s no plans to follow suit.

It comes as Dreamworld ends its tiger encounters attraction because of “shifting public sentiment” around performing animals.

World Animal Protection’s country director for Australia, Ben Pearson, commended Dreamworld for the change but went a step further to advocate for ending another attraction at the park.

“We will continue our engagement with Dreamworld and advocate that they phase out other attractions such as koala cuddles,” he said.

“Koalas are wild animals and are not adapted to close contact with humans, with studies telling us that they become stressed when even in proximity to humans.

“Forced visitor interactions with an animal like a koala simply adds a layer of cruelty to their life of captivity.”

Press PLAY below to hear Laurel, Gary & Mark ask listeners whether koala cuddles should be banned in Qld

Image: Getty