A French bachelor traveled all the way across the Atlantic to meet his new mate in Cleveland. (Maybe even two mates.)

The handsome suitor from central France goes by the name "Bulkee." He's a 5-year-old koala who recently took up residence at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo's Australian Adventure, where he's being introduced to a few female koalas.

Bulkee is now on exhibit every morning inside the Zoo's GumLeaf Hideout. Plus, you can see him and talk to his keepers during Bulkee's Birthday Bash from 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, July 29. He'll be turning six.

Female koalas "Colliet" and "Midgee" already have shown some interest in Bulkee, and hopes are for that interest to lead to koala joeys in the not too distant future.

"The Zoo's koala breeding program is one of the most successful in the country, and we're hoping Bulkee helps us to continue that success." said Zoo Director Steve Taylor. "From what we've seen so far, he seems to be a good match for our female koalas."

Since the opening of the Zoo's Australian Adventure in 1999, Colliet and Midgee have given birth to a combined 12 koalas. The decision to pair them with Bulkee came upon the recommendation of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums' Species Survival Plan, which manages the koala population at zoos nationwide.

Bulkee had lived at ZooParc de Beauval in France until earlier this year when he made the trans-Atlantic flight to the San Diego Zoo, where he stayed in a routine quarantine before flying to Cleveland with one of his keepers. (The San Diego Zoo launched the koala breeding program in the United States and is loaning Bulkee to Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.)

The Zoo's goal for the koala breeding program is to educate people about these furry marsupials and the threats to their long-term survival. In their native Australia, koalas are at risk because of continuous habitat loss.

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily with hours extended to 7 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays through Labor Day. Admission is $10 per person, $7 for kids ages 2 to 11 and free for children under 2 and Zoo members. Parking is free. Located at 3900 Wildlife Way, the Zoo is easily accessible from Interstates 71, 77, 90 and 480.