'There's no escape': Concerns for koalas stranded in 'banded' trees
A koala rescue group has appealed for help fearing for the welfare of a number of koalas it believes might be trapped in banded Adelaide trees.
Koala Rescue - Adelaide Hills posted a photo on Facebook of a banded tree on Tuesday accusing those responsible for banding the trees of not checking for koalas.
“We are currently aware of three koalas 'trapped' and unable to leave in one tree in particular as well as one dead koala joey on the ground,” it wrote.
Kim Hunter, a volunteer at the koala rescue, told Yahoo News Australia she’s concerned a number of koalas might be stuck in the trees.
“The trees become too slippery for them to climb down,” she said.
“There’s no escape from them.”
She added the rescue group is compiling a list of trees which might be affected.
Ms Hunter cited areas including suburbs Vista, Fullarton, Dernancourt and Tea Tree Gully as having banded trees, but wasn’t sure how many trees were affected.
Volunteers will determine that in the coming days.
Why Adelaide trees are being banded
An Adelaide City Council spokesman said trees have been banded to prevent ‘over-grazing’ by possums, adding that council does check for koalas.
The council identified in 2017 the decline and tree death of mature red gums along Fullarton Road.
“Initial testing identified that we were dealing with a fungal disease which is a serious disease for our native trees with no easy cure,” he told Yahoo News in a statement.
He added one of the issues identified as affecting the trees was “over-grazing of marsupials”. Council installed possum barriers around approximately 20 trees at the beginning of winter.
The spokesman said there had been no evidence of koalas living in the trees, and that banding is only a temporary action with the bands to be removed in September.
City of Unley advised it also does “a very small handful of trees” to give them a rest from over consumption by koalas and possums but this is done with “very careful consideration”.
Meanwhile a City of Tea Tree Gully spokesperson said an isolated case at Vista was due to a “unique set of circumstances”.
“We had reports of a highly unusual case of three koalas living in the one tree – an SA Blue Gum, estimated to be up to 80 years old and about 25 metres tall,” the spokesperson said.
“Unfortunately, the koalas were literally eating the tree to death, so we researched how to best relocate the koalas and save the tree.
“After expert advice from Natural Resources Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges, we have temporarily applied a collar to the tree to allow the koalas to safely leave, but prevent return until the tree recovers.
“The koalas have relocated to nearby healthy trees that offer a sustainable food source.
“Once the tree has regained health, we will remove the collar so this tree can again provide a food source for our much-loved and respected koalas.
“We feel this will provide a good long-term outcome for both the koalas and the tree.”
Adelaide arborist Simon Fitzgerald, who runs Playford Tree Service, told Yahoo News Australia banding trees is “common practise”.
“It would be to prevent animals from gaining entry to the tree,” Mr Fitzgerald said.
“It’s common practise usually to curb possums.
“You see lots of it in Melbourne but they usually use a metal band not plastic.”
Banding trees can also be done to prevent insects from destroying trees.
In Tasmania, certain trees are banded to stop the spread of elm leaf beetles which are considered a pest.
Ms Hunter said she appreciates putting bands around the trees is trying to help them.
She just wants them to check the trees for koalas first.
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