FOUR days, 59 koalas detected – that’s the findings of a University of Queensland survey of the population of the endangered marsupial in the vicinity of the Fassifern Reserve near Aratula.
The Koala Research Team found the numbers so significant that the population was declared as “important to the future of koalas in South East Queensland”.
The report from the researchers was tabled at Wednesday’s Scenic Rim Regional Council meeting with the recommendation that an implementation plan be developed to take up the researchers advice on ways to improve the situation and habitat for koalas in the surveyed area.
Councillors were advised that the Fassifern Reserve beside the Cunningham Highway was chosen as the base for the survey as it was a recognised ‘vehicle strike hotspot’ for koalas.
However, the researchers also surveyed surrounding areas such as Frazerview, Kents Lagoon and Roadvale.
Council’s Biodiversity and Climate Change officers engaged the university team to undertake the survey.
“[They] detected 59 koalas in only four days using ground-based and drone surveys in May and June [by both sightings and scat],” according to the officer report to Council.
“These observations have confirmed that a locally abundant and overtly healthy koala population persists in the fragmented habitat in and around the Fassifern Reserve, along Warrill and Reynolds Creeks and in surrounding available habitat.
“Koalas were found on creek lines and in retained habitat. Where suitable trees for both food and shelter were present, the investigation found either signs of koala use or koalas physically present.
“The number of koalas detected, and the geographic breadth of detections suggests that a significant koala population inhabits the … area and presents a wonderful opportunity for proactive management and conservation of the koala.”
In developing an implementation plan, if approved by councillors, the Council officers anticipate involving a number of State Government departments, the Rivers Improvement Trust, Healthy Land and Water, landholders and community organisations.
The implementation plan is expected to contain projects such as clearing environmental weeds from creek banks to improve koala habitat and ease of access to safer pathways, exclusion fencing to direct koalas to the safer pathways and koala food tree plantings.