WARNING: THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS AN IMAGE OF A DECEASED ANIMAL.
Gympie Regional Council and wildlife carers are reminding drivers to look out for koalas on rural roads as the breeding season from July to December gets underway.
Council is asking drivers and residents to ‘look out for our little mates while they search for theirs’ and has offered four tips to help keep koalas safe.
Four tips for koala safety
- Slow down and take extra care on the roads between dusk and dawn
- Keep rescue numbers on hand for koala emergencies
- Report koala sightings to council’s Wildwatch Gympie
- Contain or restrain your dogs at night and inspect unusual amounts of barking
Public Relations Officer for Koala Action Gympie Region (KAGR) Michelle Daly said everyone had a responsibility during koala breeding season.
‘The wildlife hospitals call this trauma-season for koalas as all the extra activity results in a sharp rise in road strikes and dog attacks,’ Ms Daly said.
Road strikes on koalas rise during breeding season. IMAGE by Vanda Grabowski
‘Every healthy koala kept safe from car strike and dog interaction, is one that can help keep our precious koala populations going,’ Ms Daly said.
Habitat loss the main problem
Koala Action Inc President Vanda Grabowski said while Gympie Council’s tips on koala safety were valid, loss of habitat was the main reason koalas were forced to spend longer and travel greater distances on the ground in search of food, shelter, finding mates or seeking new territory.
‘If you keep reducing their habitat, these tips, while useful in the short term, do not address the long term escalating decline in koala numbers.
Koalas are forced to cross roads as their habitat is reduced by tree clearing. PHOTO: Vanda Grabowski
‘Don’t clear any more habitat trees. It’s not rocket science.’
Ms Grabowski said effective wildlife corridors were vital.
‘Wildlife corridors have to be 100 metres in width.
‘Words are cheap. We want to see action on wildlife corridors.’
Gympie Regional Council’s Koala Conservation Management Plan 2018 aims to increase high value koala habitat by 50 ha every year.
Asked how the habitat increase was progressing, a spokeswoman said council had budget for a review of the plan this financial year.
‘Over the past two years, council efforts focused on implementing the Temporary Local Planning Instrument for Biodiversity Protection (TLPI), which protects and enhances ecological linkages, priority species habitats (including koala habitats), wetlands, and waterways.
‘It is believed the TLPI’s implementation has assisted in minimising potential impacts.
Council says it’s working to mimimise impacts on wildlife habitat
‘Council also supports various koala protection and habitat enhancement projects throughout the region, undertaken by community groups via the annual Environmental Grants Program.
‘The future adoption of council’s new Planning Scheme will seek to apply a balanced approach to conservation and development in the region,’ the spokeswoman said.
Slow down near bushland
Ms Grabowski said drivers could help prevent striking koalas on rural roads by always slowing down near bushland.
‘If a koala is hit by car travelling at 60km/h it has a chance of survival but if struck by a car travelling 80km/h, the koala has a low chance of survival,’ she said.
For more information
To find your local wildlife rescue group or individual, call the state-wide number for Wildlife Rescue 1300 ANIMAL and they will refer you to a local rescue service.
Koala Action Gympie Region (KAGR) aims to build a koala-aware community
Koala Action Inc advocates for the long-term survival of koalas over their natural range throughout Australia.
PHOTO at top of story of koala taken in Amamoor in the Mary Valley by Leeroy Todd Photography
