Cutting-edge science is set to provide valuable insight into the Sunshine Coast koala population, in a bid to protect the threatened Aussie icon.
Five local groups, bolstered by an almost $200,000 grant from the federal government, will learn more about the relatively secret lives of koalas in the area.
Sunshine Coast Council, First Nations Peoples, University of Sunshine Coast Detection Dogs for Conservation, Brush Turkey Enterprises and Mooloolah River Landcare will work together in the Saving Sunshine Coast Koalas project.
They will use artificial intelligence, koala bellow recognition programs, drone-mounted thermal imagery, detection dogs and next-generation scat genetic analyses to get a better understanding of the local koala population, including where they live, numbers, state of their health and what they eat.
On-ground surveys in the region’s relatively inaccessible habitat will look for koalas that need care, and trees will be planted to extend and connect existing koala habitat.
Sunshine Coast Councillor Maria Suarez said that with a united approach, people could help the threatened species survive.
“While we do know a little about the koalas in some small pockets of the Sunshine Coast, this project will give us a region-wide view and understanding of the local population,” she said.
“Council is proud to partner with our community and be part of the Australia-wide effort to protect these iconic Australian animals and deliver on the Sunshine Coast Koala Conservation Plan.”
The UniSC Detection Dogs for Conservation research group will work on the ground to provide a big-picture view of where koalas live across the region.
“This project will build new knowledge for targeted on-ground conservation efforts, habitat restoration and treatment of chlamydial disease,” Dr Romane Cristescu said.
“In addition to informing and enabling koala threat abatement, it will contribute valuable koala density data – which is critical to validating and refining current koala habitat modelling and contributing to the National Koala Monitoring Program.”
Brush Turkey Enterprises will extend the existing Howells Knob Koala Restoration Project by an extra two hectares and host a local landholder koala habitat workshop day with neighbouring properties in Reesville.
Mooloolah Landcare’s Spencer Shaw said his group would grow and supply 3500 koala food trees and hold a koala community planting day for landowners in the Mooloolah catchment.
“Thanks to this project, the future is looking brighter for the koalas of Reesville, with habitat extension and connection, and, perhaps more importantly, education and engagement with residents about the amazing country we share with koalas,” he said.
The threatened species management plans have been designed to protect and enhance natural landscapes and its inhabitants and deliver on the Strategic Pathways of the Environment and Liveability Strategy.
The project is funded by the Australian Government’s Saving Koalas Fund.
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