Future of iconic Aussie species protected within confines of 400-hectare property
Koalas are facing multiple threats in the wild, so ecologists have established a healthy population inside a remote property.
Disease is one of the biggest threats facing endangered koalas in Australia’s north. So conservationists have created an insurance population within a fenced off 400-hectare predator-free sanctuary that's bigger than the area of Sydney.
Drones were flown above the Barrington Tops, north of Newcastle, to detect the animals high in the trees. They were brought down and tested by medical experts for chlamydia, a bacteria thought to have been introduced by livestock, that leads to infertility and death.
Veterinarian Dr Julien Grosmaire told Yahoo News it's straightforward to rid koalas of the disease, but without fencing koalas simply get reinfected. Of the eight koalas detected at the property five tested positive so they were given medical treatment.
“Koalas are declining fast. They’re rapidly heading towards extinction. We’ve already seen localised extinctions in some areas, so the time to do something is now, and we can’t delay any longer,” Grosmaire said.
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Will there be more than eight koalas kept as an insurance population?
The project is a collaboration between vets and ecologists from Endeavour Veterinary Ecology (EVE) and Aussie Ark, which was formed in 2011 to create insurance populations of Tasmanian devils after the species was listed as endangered.
By 2050, koalas will likely be extinct in the wild across NSW, and possibly Queensland. While they are considered abundant in Victoria and South Australia, many conservationists are worried that ongoing habitat destruction and climate change will lead to their decline in those states.
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Koalas at the Barrington Tops sanctuary have been fitted with tracking devices which are monitored using a solar-powered cellular antenna at one of the property’s highest points.
Aussie Ark’s Tim Faulkner explained the project is about more than just eight koalas. “Once we secure this disease-free population, we can start building that number, and building on from this project,” he said.
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