Four koalas at the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve were wearing radio-equipped collars worth $200 each, reported The Canberra Times 44 years ago. Another eight koalas were also to be equipped with the collars.
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The Department of the Capital Territory had bought the collars from a specialist manufacturer in Sydney because it was suspected the rigid territorial system in the reserve's koala enclosure was forcing animals out into the surrounding bushland.
Dr Mike Braysher, a wildlife biologist with the conservation and agriculture branch of the department, said he believed up to 15 animals had been forced to leave the 1000 by 500 metre enclosure by their fellow inmates because of territorial disputes.
"Koalas establish some kind of social hierarchy and social system", Dr Braysher said.
"When there's an excess of animals, some of them are pushed out of the enclosure".
On Page 2, Jack Waterford reported on an outcast of a different kind, Terry Ranger. In 1975, Mr Ranger, 18, faced a number of serious charges in Canberra Children's Court. Police described Mr Ranger as a nuisance and a headache. He had spent his life in institutions.
Mr Waterford suggested Canberra has a half-way house, where people like Terry, with anti-social behaviours, could live as normal a life as possible.
