At first glance, Izzy Bee seems like your typical 13-year-old Australian girl. She loves hanging out with her friends and is currently enjoying Year 7 of school. Once you get to know her, you soon realize she is anything but typical!
Bee is known as The Koala Whisperer. She has her own show on Netflix called “Izzy’s Koala World.” Bee’s mother Ali is a veterinarian who bought an animal clinic with her husband Tim.
Now, Izzy works with her parents on the show, rescuing koalas and releasing them back into the wild on Magnetic Island in Australia.
“It’s very fun and educational to be able to work with the koalas,” Izzy said. “All koalas are different, they are most definitely not cute, lazy fur balls.”
Izzy has observed koalas wrestling each other and biting and nipping her mother and her when they’re hungry. Others are stealthy and elegant like house cats, and some are a bit “clumsy and weird,” she said.
Izzyís Koala World Izzy Bee as Izzy Bee in episode 2 of Izzyís Koala World. Cr. NETFLIX © 2020
A typical day in the life of Izzy includes waking up and checking on her koalas and making sure they are happy and healthy. She also helps to feed the joeys, as baby koalas are called. In the afternoon, she feeds the koalas leaves and makes sure their enclosures are properly shut so they don’t escape.
“I just love the feeling of helping people and animals in need of care,” Izzy said.
A particular koala that affected Izzy was one named Leia. “She changed my life and was an amazing koala—she had the best personality,” Izzy added. You can see more about Leia in episodes three, seven and eight of “Izzy’s Koala World.” Leia was named after—you guessed it—Princess Leia from the iconic Star Wars franchise. The koala has particularly fluffy ears that look a lot like Princess Leia’s signature hairstyle.
Izzy wants people to know that a big problem for koalas outside of Magnetic Island is the sexually transmitted infection chlamydia.
“Luckily, the island’s population barely has any cases of it,” she said. “Another big issue for koalas that we run into is Cryptococcus, which is a fungal infection affecting the lungs, nose and mouth, causing breathing difficulties.”
Izzyís Koala World Ali Bee as Ali Bee, Izzy Bee as Izzy Bee, Tim Bee as Tim Bee in episode 6 of Izzyís Koala World. Cr. NETFLIX © 2020
American children who want to help the koalas that Izzy works with can raise awareness by letting their friends know what Izzy and her mother are doing for the animals.
“We put a lot of effort into saving these koalas,” Izzy said.
When Izzy is older, she hopes to continue working with her mother, but would also like to pursue acting.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Izzy’s family currently is working with 11 koalas.
Koalas are currently facing extinction by the year 2050. The Australia Koala Foundation currently estimates that there are less than 100,000 koalas left in the wild, with possibly as few as 43,000.
Season one of “Izzy’s Koala World” is currently on Netflix with eight episodes streaming now.
Best show ever me and my granddaughter truly enjoyed this show so much she loves koalas so much now
This series is amazing! I wish they would continue. It’s wholesome traditional family that has a good hearted business doing good things. IF they have drama it’s not aired out for everyone to see. It’s centered around love and helping others. I love that my 6 year old daughter has such a fascination with koala’s now because of Izzy. For once we have a respectable roll model!
My granddaughter Calista was born in Australia 6 years ago but is living
in Switzerland at present and love to help Izzy.
Can you send me her contact details
Many thanks
Ian McKenzie
Hi, Ian!
We aren’t affiliated with Izzy and aren’t able to give you her contact details, but I’m so glad you and your granddaughter enjoy the show!
Izzy, you are such a role model and koalas are my favorite animals, I am working on a project to make money and send it to you to help save the koalas!!! I love your show so much I even have a stuffed koala named Chompy! My dog chewed his ear and foot but my mom sewed him back up so now he is like the real Chompy because he was in the koala hospital. Thank you for all you do to save koalas!
i love koalas there my favorite and i am doing a animal report on a koala
Izzy, My name is Elliott. I’m a 5year from Colorado in the mountains. I enjoy your show very much. I would love to come to your house some day. I love Koala’s. My Gramma has visited Australia. I hope to some day. What I like best about show is how you care for the Koala’s.
We love Izzy and her family! My 5 year old, Viola, and watch her episodes over and over again! Is there a way to communicate with Izzy through email or Facebook page? My daughter considers her a hero and wants to send a message. We hope for a season 3!
i love koalas
Hi!
My 4 year old daughter and I are truly taken with this series and Family. We so appreciate all that they are doing. My daughter Aila has so much love for animals already and adores Izzy and the Koalas with all of her heart. We would love to know if there is a way to communicate with Izzy and her family or send a picture or email to them. Thank you!
THIS WAS REALLY A SUPERB DOCUMENTARY AND I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT RESCUING LITTLE KOALAS CAUGHT IN FIRES BY IZZY & HER FAMILY!
We have been drawn in and inspired by Izzy and her parents. Loving g this series, and hoping for another season with even more info.on Koalas.