Shining a spotlight on koalas in Warialda
Shining a spotlight on koalas in Warialda
North West Regional Koala ARKS group - Warialda community and regional stakeholders collaborating to shine a light on the Warialda koala population
Collaborations -
LEP_13_RLC
The issue
Anecdotal evidence of a healthy koala population has existed for years in the Warialda and Bingara region, however solid evidence on populations has been difficult to find in any official channels.
During the summer of 2023/24, the hot dry weather possibly encouraged koalas and other wildlife to the Warialda Koala Wildlife Reserve, where 3 permanent koala drinkers have been installed. In addition to drinkers, koala habitat was planted and some of the existing koala feed trees irrigated. The formula seemed to work, with locals and tourists alike enjoying the sight of koalas in the reserve on a daily basis for over 6 months. On any given day numbers could range from one to six healthy looking koalas in the reserve, all within a 200 metre radius.
The solution
North West Regional Koala ARKS group (NWRKA), founded by Warialda local John Hodge, have worked to shine a light on the koala population and hopefully attract additional funding to the area to further support them.
Through John's efforts in photographing the koalas daily and sharing the information on social media, as well as the group's efforts in communicating with external stakeholders, they are starting to draw attention to the population.
Recently, Northern Slopes Landcare successfully sought funding from North West Local Land Services to add to WIRES National Grant funding and their own general ledger funds to carry out a thermal drone survey of the Warialda Koala Wildlife Reserve and surrounding travelling stock reserves.
The impact
The nine night drone survey was conducted in June 2024. Three koalas were sighted on the first night - the best result our ecologist had ever had, and a total of eight koalas over the 9 nights. The koalas were concentrated around refugia areas where there was plentiful moisture and water either from koala drinking stations and irrigation of remnant vegetation or adjacent to the creek.
The survey results will be shared with stakeholders and community members. The NWRKA group will look towards sourcing funding to implement the next steps recommended in the report - including vegetation mapping identifying priority koala habitat, further drone surveying, genetic sampling of scats, and monitoring throughout the year to observe breeding success.
Key facts
- A thermal drone survey has identified a strong koala presence surrounding Warialda.
- Potential positive outcomes from irrigating remnant native vegetation for not just koala but many native species
- The results of the survey will increase both official sightings and awareness of koalas in the region.
- North West Regional Koala ARKS Group will look towards sourcing funding to implement the recommended next steps noted in the report.
- Genetic sampling of scats from koalas is required to determine population health and diseases that are present.