Layla the pademelon nursed to health and released into ecological park

A red-legged pademelon found weighing just 300g has been released into a burgeoning ecological park after months of care.

The marsupial, dubbed Layla, was discovered at the Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve at Maleny during heavy rainfall earlier this year.

She was nursed to health and, at 2kg, was released into the adjacent Sunshine Coast Ecological Park.

The park has natural shelter, food sources and nearby pademelons.

Licensed carer Rachel Connolly said it was rewarding to return Layla to natural habitat.

“I will miss her cute personality but I’m so happy that she can explore her new environment,” she said.

The Sunshine Coast Ecological Park project is restoring ecosystems for wildlife like Layla.

It will also deliver places for play, sharing culture, research and learning on the 65-hectare former pasture site, in coming decades.

Unlike traditional parks, the park considers people, wildlife, resources and vegetation equally, balancing recreation with ecological restoration.

As part of the project, the site will be transformed over decades into a living laboratory for scientific study, cultural storytelling and learning.

It will be a place for the community to connect with nature and each other, while being part of the park’s restorative process along the way.