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NSW’s first statewide Koala count discovers new population in Coolah Tops

NSW’s first statewide Koala count discovers new population in Coolah Tops
June 10, 2023

A survey conducted by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service - with the help of thermal drones and sniffer dogs - has found a healthy koala population in the high-elevation forests of Coolah Tops National Park.

The 42 koalas have been identified in Coolah Tops and on adjoining land after the survey was conducted as part of the NSW Koala Strategy.

This is an exceptional outcome, as there have been only five recorded sightings in Coolah Tops National Park in the last 70 years.

Although a few historic koala records exist, and recent audio detections of koala bellows were recorded in the area during spring 2023, nothing was known about whether a population of koalas persisted at Coolah Tops National Park.

The Department of Planning and Environment is now preparing a statewide koala count to establish a population baseline for the endangered species – a first for New South Wales.

A systematic koala count on public land is already underway, in national parks, state forest and other public land throughout eastern and central New South Wales.

The count will be conducted using nocturnal infrared drones, trained koala spotters and sound recorders deployed across 1,000 sites.

Understanding the distribution and size of the current koala population is vital for tracking the recovery of this iconic species into the future.

Last weekend, the NSW Government also protected 4,500 hectares of bushland containing an estimated 30 to 60 koalas west of Port Macquarie.

The bushland is within the traditional lands of the Birpai nation and occupies a critical position between two known koala populations at Comboyne and South Kempsey.

NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe shared “These are three great wins in the fight to secure our koala population in New South Wales.

“To save our koala population we need to know where the koalas are, how many koalas are out there, because without this information, everything else is just guesswork.

“We’ve started protecting koala-preferred habitat from logging or grazing, we’re using cutting-edge technology to confirm koala numbers, and we will create the Great Koala National Park in our first term in government.”

Related Articles

5th June 2023 - NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service buys 4500 hectares to protect koala habitat

26th May 2023 - Nature Conservation Council says NSW taxpayer should not be subsidising forest industry to kill koalas

13th May 2023 - Great Barrier Reef island purchases aim to protect critical koala and turtle habitats

2nd May 2023 - New alliance forms to address desperate situation for koalas in Victoria

21st April 2023 - Feedback sought from Queenslanders on how to strengthen koala protections

4th February 2023 - NSW Government invests in eight new koala research projects

16th November 2022 - Toowoomba Regional Council seeks funding for koala mapping

27th October 2022 - Conservation organisations deploy thermal drones to conduct koala population surveys

26th September 2022 - NSW Koala Strategy invests $1.4 million in state’s north

23rd August 2022 - Gunnedah Shire Council awards construction contract for Koala Sanctuary

3rd August 2022 - Significant site secured to protect koalas during Queensland’s M1 project

12th July 2022 - Australian Koala Foundation issues warning to new Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek

11th April 2022 - NSW Government releases its new Koala Strategy


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