Treetops News Autumn/Winter 2020 - Friends of the Koala
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Treetops News Autumn/Winter 2020
Volunteers working for Koala Rescue, Rehabilitation & Release Research Advocacy Education Habitat Restoration
Rescue me, I’m hanging on for dear life!
By Maria Matthes and Marley Christian
At around 9am on Sunday 15 March, there was a call to haven. Before we knew it, we had him in the cage and were
the rescue hotline ... a koala was clinging onto a gum tree heading back to shore. Rescue mission success! We named
that had fallen into the river when the riverbank the koala Pelican, after the nickname of fisherman who
collapsed at Coraki. Pelican, a local fisherman, was found him and helped with his rescue.
scoping out fishing spots in his boat when he found the
koala hanging on for dear life. At the Friends of the Koala (FOK) Care and Research Centre,
Pelican's preliminary assessment showed he was a bit
dehydrated, had brown dry fur and was very hungry. His
chlamydia tests revealed he did not have chlamydial
conjunctivitis so that gluggy eye was due to another cause.
He was given treatment for his cystitis and lots of nice leaf
from our plantations.
Pelican provided the volunteers at FOK with many laughs -
his personality adored by all who helped his recovery. One
of his favourite antics was to hang from the wire fence and
reach across to grab his leaf from the perch, rather than
like most koalas in care, sit in the perch to eat.
Clinging on for life in the fallen gum tree (Cont’d. page 7)
This was definitely an unusual rescue for us. So many
scenarios of what to expect were playing out in our minds.
We had to be prepared because we likely only had one
chance and we didn’t want the koala or us to end up in the
river.
As the boat approached, we could see the koala, and
wondered how on earth we were going to do this. Pelican
maneuvered the boat, with great skill and care, getting us
right next to the koala. What an inquisitive fellow, reaching
forward to see what was going on. We could see he was a
boy we thought had chlamydial cystitis and conjunctivitis.
Despite being a bit stressed, he provided a model Pelican checking out the rescue team
rescue, just needing a couple of claws prying off his safe
Please help us to prevent a local extinction. Find out how from our stories insid e
Please help us to prevent a local extinction. Find out how from our stories inside
Treetops News Page 2 Autumn/Winter 2020
New Koala SEPP another missed opportunity
By Lorraine Vass, Patron
On 1 March the State Environmental proposed for a revised SEPP. Though disappointed with the
Planning Policy (Koala Habitat narrow focus and scant information, we had our say and
Protection) 2019 came into effect. The heard no more. Three years on, out of the blue, the new
1995 policy it replaced, of the same Koala SEPP was released immediately before Christmas; a
name, was known as SEPP 44. Both hasty response perhaps to the bushfire emergency
were made under the Environmental decimating koala populations.
Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
While the new SEPP implements a number of key changes,
SEPP 44’s intention was to provide protection for we had hoped for (but not really expected) so much more.
important koala habitat on land subject to council- The Draft Koala Habitat Protection Guideline, critical to the
approved development, primarily by preparing and SEPP’s implementation is still not finalised. A new
implementing koala plans of management before granting Ministerial Direction, which is expected to outline
development consent. Landscape-scale ‘comprehensive’ requirements for councils preparing planning proposals to
plans were to be prepared by councils. Where a plan was identify areas of core koala habitat and zone the land
not in place proponents were required to submit site- Environmental Protection, or include provisions that
specific, ‘individual’ plans. The first step was to identify control development of the land to consider impact on
areas of core koala habitat which the SEPP encouraged to koalas and their habitat, has not yet materialised.
be included in environment protection zones.
So, what are the pros and cons of Koala SEPP 19? Most
Over SEPP 44’s 25-year life, only five Councils across NSW significantly, the definition of core koala habitat has been
achieved approved comprehensive koala plans of updated and the problematic concept of ‘potential koala
management. Another six had draft plans awaiting habitat’ has been replaced by mapping to initially identify
approval. While I don’t know the exact number of koala habitat. The State-wide list of food tree species has
individual plans approved across the Northern Rivers, I increased from 10 to 123. However, while these changes
would be surprised if they numbered more than 25. Friends are likely to result in a greater amount of land being
of the Koala helped shape the comprehensive koala identified as core koala habitat, there is no real increased
management plans or strategies being implemented by protection for that habitat.
Lismore, Tweed, Byron and Ballina councils. We have also
made input by way of consultation processes into many of The new SEPP still only applies to limited types of
the individual koala plans of management in place across development; preparation of comprehensive koala plans of
the region. management remains voluntary; the one-hectare
requirement remains; monitoring and compliance
At best SEPP 44’s application might minimise a proposal’s requirements have not improved and climate change
damaging impacts on koala habitat but it did not stop considerations have been ignored. Most damning, the SEPP
absolutely its clearance. In 2010, frustrated with this and still enables koala habitat to be cleared with approval - no
other shortcomings, Friends of the Koala enlisted the areas of koala habitat are off-limits to clearing or off-
Environmental Defenders Office to write to the NSW setting.
Government on the urgent need for reform with three key
recommendations: reviewing and updating the food tree Koala conservation is riddled with missed opportunities.
species list and definition of ‘koala habitat’; removing the Planning, public and private forestry, and land
one hectare trigger for an individual koala plan of management laws in NSW all fail to adequately protect
management; and adding monitoring, reviewing, reporting koala habitat. Our job is to continue chipping away at
and compliance requirements. Sadly, our effort was convincing our law-makers that unless they enact robust
ignored. legislation capable of stopping habitat destruction, many
more of the State ‘s koala populations will reach a point of
Government took until 2016 to review the SEPP and local extinction.
towards year’s end invited comment on findings and the
Explanation of Intended Effect of the amendments
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Treetops News Page 3 Autumn/Winter 2020
President’s Report
of temporary runs had to be constructed by several of our
volunteers – as always, they rose to the task.
Coming hot on the heels of the bushfires, COVID-19
By Ros Irwin impacted significantly on our organisation with some of our
volunteers in the high-risk category in self-isolation from
Our usual Treetops schedule has been
early February. We had to cancel our tours and ensure our
disrupted due to a number of
volunteers could still carry out their volunteer roles in
challenges that we hadn’t anticipated,
safety and comply with the COVID-19 protocols. Our
causing us to miss the Winter/Spring
volunteers are always our heroes, whether it’s those
2019 edition and this Summer/Autumn
harvesting leaf for our koalas in care, rescuing koalas,
edition to be late. We hope you have
caring for them whilst they’re in care or carrying out the
enjoyed editions of Treetop e-news
many roles that our volunteers fulfil. They respond well to
which have circulated in the meantime.
most challenges and COVID-19 was no exception.
It’s no news that since 1 July last year we have faced several
With the community locked down for the latter part of this
weather events that had a significant impact on koalas in
period, our sightings went through the roof, and kept our
the Region - and therefore on us. The two-year drought
staff and all our volunteers very busy. As is the case with
was so bad that across our Region brown and black
most emergencies, despite the shocking fires and the
replaced the usual green vegetation this Region is known
decimation of so much of our wildlife across Australia,
for, and even caused our rainforests to be dry. By
there were some brighter outcomes. We were completely
September last year we were rescuing many koalas that
overwhelmed with the amount of support we received
were dehydrated and suffering from malnutrition. Then
from our local and international community. Our message
the fires came, with shocking loss of life for all wildlife and
was promoted to people across the world, thanks to our
koalas, particularly in the Richmond Valley local
partner IFAW which resulted in substantial donations that
government area, where 50% of the land was burnt and we
will ensure we can continue our work to save koalas in this
lost 2,000 koalas. Our first ‘bushfire’ koalas were rescued
Region for at least 3 years. The thousands of donations
on 12 October from the fires at Rappville – a female and
(some of which were tied to particular outcomes) and huge
her back-young joey called Flame and Spirit who were
number of requests to Adopt a Koala, were a bit of a
released back to the wild in December. There were also
nightmare for our office staff Claire and Amitha to manage,
fires on the Ngunya Jargoon Indigenous Protected Area
but we are incredibly grateful to those who donated to us
around Wardell and in rainforests in the Nightcap National
or adopted a koala, both from Australia and around the
Park and Mt Nardi. Fortunately, the koalas we rescued
world. As was the case for a number of wildlife
from the Wardell fires survived, and you can read more of
organisations we also had a huge influx of new members
this in the article by Maria Matthes on p. 7.
wanting to volunteer with us. We’re always looking for new
Apart from those koalas, most of the koalas affected by volunteers, and although this was much appreciated, it also
bushfires either died or were euthanased, with only 7 being placed a heavy burden in assessing and training them for
released to the wild. The last koala we rescued from the our Volunteer Coordinator Vicky and our wonderful Shift
Bungawalbin National Park area close to Whiporie was a Supervisors who carry out most of the practical training on
young female called Ember, whose paws were badly burnt. an individual basis.
She also had other injuries caused by the fire, but after
Partly as a result of the COVID-19 lockdown we, like
spending several months at Currumbin Wildlife Hospital
everyone else, had to shift to Zoom for our meetings, and
and then back at the Care Centre she was released and has
whilst we gained new skills and could at least see each
been sighted on a number of occasions looking well - and
other, we’re certainly looking forward to a face-to-face
climbing well - which has been a delight to see.
meeting soon. As we have volunteers around the Northern
The combined impact of the drought and bushfires resulted Rivers Region we are moving progressively to on-line
in us having more koalas in care than we have ever had, workshops that will also make it easier for our volunteers
including 10 that were treated at the Currumbin Wildlife working with Hannah Ryan from National Parks and
Hospital or in care with some of our home carers. We had Wildlife on topics such as Basic Koala Education and
31 to be housed in runs at the Care Centre and a number Rescuing. For more details see Katrina’s article on p. 10.
Our Operations Manager Claire has been working with
Vicky and our website provider GDStudio to simplify our
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Treetops News Page 4 Autumn/Winter 2020
online Membership and introduce a new Volunteer an emergency trailer in preparation for any disasters that
application form which will make volunteering a bit occur in the future that we will share with other wildlife
smoother and easier for potential volunteers to access on- organisations in the Northern Rivers.
line. Both can be accessed at
https://www.friendsofthekoala.org/get- With the end of our financial year approaching, and our
active/volunteers/ . Annual General Meeting in October, the future for our
koalas in the Region is looking good, but nevertheless, as is
Thanks to fundraising and grants there are good things in evident in our Patron’s review of the new State
the pipeline including refurbishing the whole run area with Environmental Planning Policy SEPP (Koala Habitat
improved fencing, replacement of the current inadequate Protection) 2019, the fight to prevent the extinction of
leafing area and incorporating a larger koala kindy and koalas is not over. We support and look forward to the
perhaps some additional runs. Thanks to a grant from listing of koalas being raised to at least endangered. We
National Parks and Wildlife we will have a purpose-built also hope that governments at all levels take the essential
carport to accommodate our vehicles and trailers as well as step of really protecting koala habitat.
Koala Watch Project Update
By Maria Matthes, Koala Watch Project Officer
With the spring-summer fires, closely followed by the • fire and vegetation types
COVID-19 restrictions, many of the Koala Watch activities • fire behaviour
have been postponed. However, we did manage to fit in • assessing fuel loads
a couple of Understanding and Managing Fire for • koala’s response to fire and impacts of fire to
Healthy Koala Habitat workshops, as well as some other koalas
Koala Watch workshops, field days and stalls at various • managing koala habitat to reduce risks of fire
events. We will be rescheduling more workshops in the impacting on koalas
near future. • pre- and post-fire koala watching,
• climate change and fire, and
A great day was had by
• developing property and community fire plans.
all at the Collins Creek-
Gesar Springs
Community Koala Keep following the Friends of the Koala website and
Habitat Day. The Facebook page for upcoming events or contact Maria on
morning was spent 0467 855 990 or email maria@healinghistory.com.au to
planting koala habitat register an interest in attending a fire and/or habitat
trees, and after lunch a workshop or if you would like Koala Watch to attend your
series of koala habitat event. The Koala Watch project is assisted by the NSW
workshops were Government through its Environmental Trust, local
delivered. Pingu, Friends Councils and Landcare Groups.
of the Koala's stuffed
koala was extremely
popular with children
Pingu and all his friends and adults, all wanting a
picture taken. We now
have another 25 keen koala watchers in the area.
Understanding and Managing Fire for Healthy Koala
Habitat workshops are delivered by Friends of the Koala
and Rural Fire Service, and to date have been well received.
Attendees receive a Koala Watching Kit and a Koalas and Koala Fire Training Workshop with Uki RFS
Fire Management Kit, and learn about:
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Treetops News Page 5 Autumn/Winter 2020
Koala Outcomes July 2019 – May 2020
From 1 July 2019 to the end
LGA Sighted/ Admitted Outcome Death Cause of Death of May 2020 we admitted
Advice
305 koalas, and
Released 11 Attack – Dog (2) unfortunately 196 or 63%
Ballina 56 22 10 either died or were
In Care 1 Disease – Chlamydia (7), Other (1)
euthanased. However, on
Attack – Dog (2) the positive side, our
Collision - Motor Vehicle (4) release rate was just on
Released 8 31%, which is far higher
Byron 251 42 33 Collision – Other (1)
In Care 1 than in the past, when 27%
Disease – Chlamydia (20), Other (5) was the highest we
Entanglement – Wire (1) achieved after many years
of a rate of 15%. This is a key
Attack – Dog (1) indicator for us of our
Clarence Released 4 Collision – Motor Vehicle (1) effectiveness, and when the
Valley 11 14 9
In Care 1 Disease – Chlamydia (3), Other (2) 15 still in care with us (and
therefore likely to be
Event – Fire (2)
released later) are included
Released 3 Attack – Dog (1) the rate is 36%. Whilst
Kyogle 48 16 12 these achievements are the
In Care 1 Disease – Chlamydia (8), Other (3)
result of our volunteers
Abandoned/Orphaned (1) collectively, they are also
Attack – Dog (5) great indicators of the
presence of first our Vet
Collision – Motor Vehicle (11)
Released 55 Nurse Marley who has been
Lismore 589 167 104 Disease – Chlamydia (68), Other (14) employed since 15 May
In Care 8
Fallen from tree (2) 2019 and also our Vet
Unknown (2) Jackie, who started on 15
April 2020. These stats
Unsuitable Environment (1)
vindicate our belief that
Abandoned/Orphaned (1) employing these 2 with
Collision – Motor Vehicle (1) clinical qualifications would
Richmond Released 10 result in almost all koalas
Valley 55 26 14 Disease -Chlamydia (4), Other (2)
In Care 2 rescued by us being treated
Unknown (1) on-site with much better
Event – Fire (5) outcomes for koalas in the
Region.
Released 0 Disease – Chlamydia (2)
Tenterfield 1 4 4
In Care 0 Event – Fire (2)
Released 3 Attack – Dog (1)
Tweed 213 14 10
In Care 1 Disease – Chlamydia (8), Other (1)
Released 94
TOTALS 1224 305 196
In Care 15
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Treetops News Page 6 Autumn/Winter 2020
Welcome Jackie – our new Vet!
By Claire Agnew, Manager Operations and Communications
We are thrilled to welcome to our team IFAW sponsored Vet, Jackie Reed.
Jackie recently arrived back in Australia after 9 months working with sea
turtles in the Maldives. Before this, she was contracted by the Victorian
Government to complete koala health assessments and fertility control in
densely populated areas. For 6 years Jackie worked at Zoos Victoria as a
locum veterinarian at both Werribee Zoo and Healesville Sanctuary, and has
also worked as a vet at the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital.
Jackie has settled in seamlessly with our team of volunteers and works
closely with Marley, our IFAW sponsored Vet Nurse. Having both Jackie and
Marley on site is already making a significant and positive impact on koalas
coming into care as mentioned in our President’s report and will hopefully
lead to an increase in release rates in the future.
Jackie with Butters, a 9 month old joey currently
in home care
Franklin the Fighter
By Susannah Keogh
On a cold winters night in June 2018, we were called out to recovery. He was, however, what we consider a “failure to
an unusual rescue in Lynwood. A gentleman had found a thrive” koala. He was slow in growth and development and
koala “somewhere on the road” and dropped it off at a we were pretty sure by the time he hit 2kg that he would
random house without leaving any not make it in the wild. We gave him the
details. Thankfully, the home opportunity to prove us wrong when he
owners knew to call our Rescue was 3.5kg by placing him in a kindy
Hotline and we were able to assist plantation (koala proof fenced plantation)
immediately. to see how he would fare. He failed
miserably, losing weight and condition as
The koala turned out to be a tiny joey well as developing peritonitis
aged about 7 months old and (inflammation of the membrane lining the
weighing just over 600g. The joey abdominal wall and covering the
was named Franklin. How he ended abdominal organs) and typhlocolitis
up on the side of the road we will (inflammation of the caecum and colon)
never know. Due to his age and poor within only a few weeks. After a mammoth
condition, he certainly would not effort, he recovered and was deemed
have survived many more cold unreleaseable.
nights without milk or food. Easy to see why Franklin was given the nickname
“George Clooney”! Once healthy in care, Franklin did
The following morning, he was beautifully and grew into a stunning boy. He has been
rushed to Currumbin Wildlife Hospital and apart from his dubbed “George Clooney” by his new guardians at Port
poor body condition, Franklin (not surprisingly) had Macquarie Koala Hospital which is his new home. He will
pneumonia. While usually reasonably straightforward to live out his days in the Species Management Program with
treat, Franklin’s was persistent and recurring. But his carer girlfriends Lismore Rose and Lismore Myrtle.
Sam was vigilant and as he grew older, he made a full
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Treetops News Page 7 Autumn/Winter 2020
(Pelican’s story cont’d)
After eight weeks, Pelican was a healthy weight, had nice tentative at first after losing his footing with some loose
grey fur starting to grow back through the brown and his bark, he was off, checking out trunks and branches, before
chlamydia tests came back negative. He was ready to go settling in for a feed. Rescue and recovery a success!
Volunteers working
home. for Koala
I tracked down Rescue, Rehabilitation
the landholders & Release
where Pelican lived Research Advocacy Education Habitat Restoration
and they were thrilled to hear he had survived. They
had seen Pelican in the tree the day before it fell and had
assumed he had been washed down the river when they
checked the tree lying in the river and couldn’t see him.
On 9 May, we took him home. As we turned into the
driveway, Pelican started moving about and sniffing out the
window. He knew he was nearly home. The family were
there to meet us and we quickly discussed what other
koalas were present, the trees they used and what trees
they thought Pelican had previously used. The big tree next
to the one which fell into the river was chosen.
As the cage was put against the tree, Pelican was bursting
to get out. The cage opened and although he was a little Pelican happy to be home!
Ballina's Koalas Post-fire Rescue, Recovery
and Monitoring
By Maria Matthes, Koala Watch Project Officer
On 16 September 2019 the first of a few fires started in the provided its sponsored University of Sunshine Coast's koala
Ngunya Jargoon Indigenous Protected Area. Immediately detection dog, Bear, and his team, to the cause. Bear was
the Ngunya Jargoon Rangers and I started working with the able to cover so much ground in a short time. He was
Rural Fire Service to reduce the impacts on koala habitat successful in finding several koalas, including Gahwang. As
and to begin the search, rescue and recovery as soon as Bear is trained to find live koalas, it was interesting when
possible. he found the skull of a koala which had died after the fires.
Bear's team also use drone technology. They will be back
The efforts undertaken during the fire appear to have been to help some more as soon as they can.
somewhat successful, with several koalas located who
were determined to be healthy, including a mother and Drone help on its way
joey. Four male koalas (Kajika, Jalu, Jali Cruz, As there are koalas who may still be in need
Gahwang) were located and required varying of care after the fires, and the desire to
levels of treatment for burns and smoke relocate released koalas, WWF Australia is
inhalation. All were in relatively good sponsoring Douglas Thron, a wildlife thermal
condition, and following the great care imaging expert from California. Douglas will
received at Currumbin Wildlife Hospital and be assisting in the post-fire recovery searches
Friends of the Koala, have since been with his amazing thermal imaging drone.
released back into their home Searches will commence in June, within and
ranges. Locating and checking on our koalas adjacent to the fire ground, focusing on areas
will be ongoing over the next 12 months at where we know koalas resided prior to the
least, to ensure there are no lag effects from fires. Any koalas located will be visually
the stressful experience. assessed for signs of being in need of care,
and any koalas deemed to need care will be
Bear, the Koala Detection Dog rescued. This will also provide an excellent
To assist in the post-fire searches, the overview to the number of koalas which may
International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) Bear the Detection Dog have perished in the fires.
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Treetops News Page 8 Autumn/Winter 2020
Using safe riparian corridors to redirect fauna
across the landscape
Volunteers working for Koala Rescue, Rehabilitation & Release Research Advocacy Education Habitat Restoration
By Julie Reid, Project Coordinator
The technical meaning for the riparian zone or riparian
area is the land that runs along rivers, creeks, estuaries,
lakes and wetlands, it may vary in width but is of huge
importance to water quality and more importantly to
biodiversity.
Koalas occur throughout the Northern Rivers but are most
at risk in developing urban situations, and on the
agricultural floodplain. The focus for FOK over the last few
years has been the restoration of existing koala habitat to
create connectivity of remnant riparian vegetation on
agricultural land.
This can’t be achieved without the installation of fencing to Simon and Jasmine Andrews, FOK partners Monaltrie/Wyrallah,
exclude cattle, but fencing costs are prohibitive. Fencing being interviewed about their koalas and the benefits of fencing
waterways and controlling stock access is often regarded
as the first stage to improving the waterway. According to existing vegetation by planting natives and controlling
the DPI (2020) fencing will promote: weeds.
• improved aquatic habitat for fish and other Funding through the Federal government’s ‘Communities
species Environment Program’, and the NSW state governments
• improved water quality through reduced input of ‘Saving Our Species’ and the ‘NSW Environmental Trust’
faecal nutrients and sediments has enabled FOK to install wildlife friendly fencing on 3.5
• bank stability by preventing slumping and erosion km of the Wilson River streambank.
• reduced stock loss from bogging and drowning
• improved aesthetic qualities of the farm. Riparian corridors are a safe and continuous way for
wildlife to move across the landscape rarely being
While these points stress the commercial benefits; of impacted by roads or development pressure. Because of
greater importance to FOK are the biodiversity benefits the multi-faceted role of riparian vegetation, it is protected
that enable the natural regeneration of native plants by law.
specifically koala food trees, or an opportunity to enhance
WildlifeLink keeping our Vans on the road
The Tony and Lisette Lewis “WildlifeLink” Foundation has been huge supporters of our work for many years. In 2006, the
Foundation donated a Toyota Hiace van which is still used daily to collect leaf from our plantations. The need for a second
rescue van quickly became apparent as we grew as an organisation. In 2017, the Foundation donated a VW Transporter Van
which has rescued and transported countless koalas to Currumbin Wildlife Hospital. The Foundation has continued to provide
ongoing funding for the annual operating costs and we were thrilled to hear they have committed to another year - sponsoring
both vans and the leafing trailer for 2020/2021. Thank you WildlifeLink!
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Treetops News Page 9 Autumn/Winter 2020
Ballina’s Koalas – Pacific Highway Update
By Maria Matthes, Pacific Highway Upgrade Liaison
In 2016, approval was given to the Roads and Traffic
Authority (now Transport NSW) to construct a 4-lane
highway through four important colonies of Ballina's
Koalas, subject to a raft of conditions aimed at protecting
these colonies. Friends of the Koala has been working for
Ballina's koalas, with Transport NSW and its contractors to
ensure the conditions of approval are met and to identify
additional measures or issues to be addressed, to ensure
the best outcome possible for Ballina's koalas. A Koala
Interest Group was established which, until the COVID-19
restrictions, met every two months.
The construction of Sections 10-11 Richmond River to
Ballina are nearing completion, with final works being
undertaken. Most of Section 11 is open, with Section 10
opening when the adjacent Sections are completed.
Transport NSW has prepared a Koala Update May 2020,
which has been used as the basis for this Update.
Koala Zero Harm Training
Since construction commenced, 11,130 workers have
completed the Koala Zero Harm Induction training, with
some workers receiving more extensive training with
Friends of the Koala. All new workers will continue to
receive the induction. This training includes the
The result of gates being breached. Photo courtesy of John Briun
requirement to notify Friends of the Koala if a koala is
sighted. entire length of Section 10 and parts of Section 11, as well
as permanent and temporary fencing on local roads,
Feral Predator Control including a section of the existing Pacific Highway. All 33
In order to reduce the overall mortality of Ballina's Koalas required wildlife connectivity structures and 30 km of
during the construction phase, a predator control program permanent fencing are now in place.
was undertaken, resulting in 22 feral animals (7 dogs and
15 foxes) being trapped and removed from the koala Wardell Road has been retrofitted with four wildlife
habitat. This work was done on the Transport NSW lands crossings, with a male koala, caught on the monitoring
and surrounding 64 private properties in the local area. cameras, travelling through the culvert. This koala passed
through to the north a couple of weeks before the fires
Fencing and Fauna Connectivity which saw his habitat on the south ravaged. The cameras
Another key action to reduce the overall mortality of did not detect him moving back south, so it is assumed he
Ballina's Koalas during the construction phase and escaped unharmed.
operational stages, was to establish fencing along the
Old Bagotville Road was temporarily fenced to protect
koalas from haulage trucks and construction traffic. A
temporary speed reduction was also employed. This
fencing was removed soon after the September 2019 fires
to allow wildlife a better chance of finding a safe space and
food. A lesson learnt after the October 2017 fires in that
area.
The local community must be vigilant in observing and
reporting breaches to the fences, grids and gates to ensure
koalas do not get into the alignment. Unfortunately, due to
breaches in gates, one beautiful healthy young girl was
killed on the existing highway within the construction zone,
A stretch of permanent fencing
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Treetops News Page 10 Autumn/Winter 2020
and following closing out of the alignment, another two in a 12 month period means that any predictions as to
were located within the construction alignment in a section declining trends over a 15 year period will not be
not open to traffic. Both Transport NSW and Pacific statistically significant. However, FOK has been doing its
Complete have taken this issue seriously, however, a tree best to follow the koalas across the population in order to
branch over a fence can only be dealt with as quickly as the determine losses and changes in colonies. Sadly, the
breach is reported. colonies at Laws Point and Wardell have suffered badly, as
was predicted. FOK will be increasing its monitoring of this
Revegetation of Koala Habitat site to ensure that it persists into the future.
While the removal of mature koala food and shelter trees
occupied by a colony of koalas can never be compensated Lessons Learnt
for in the short to medium term, the approval required 130 Many lessons have been learnt through this process. The
ha of koala habitat to be planted as compensation. The top five are:
majority of 110 ha planted are over 2 years old and are 1) First and foremost is the attachment of koalas to their
doing so well they look like 3-4 year old plantings. We food trees, and the impact of the loss of both trees and
expect to see koalas using them soon. Site preparation has koalas to a stable colony.
commenced for the final 20 ha which will be planted soon. 2) Despite great ecologists and expert panel members
making recommendations, there are some impacts that
Monitoring cannot be mitigated, and you can’t beat local knowledge.
Phased Resource Reduction monitoring was undertaken 3) The majority of predictions made by Save Ballina's
prior to construction, during tree clearing, and for a short Koalas campaign, including the flaws and limitations in the
period after tree clearing, to determine the effects of the population viability analysis, and monitoring
tree collaring and/or ringbarking on the local colonies at proposals have been validated.
Laws Point and Wardell. Tree collaring was found to be an 4) The essential need to really understand each colony
unjustifiable process for ensuring koalas were not in trees within a population prior to undertaking environmental
to be removed. As a result, tree collaring is not likely to be impact assessments for developments.
recommended in future proposals requiring tree clearing. 5) The importance of working closely with Transport NSW
and their consultants to achieve transparency and the best
Cortisol scat stress studies have been undertaken during outcomes under the approval conditions.
the Phased Resource Reduction monitoring and the
Population Monitoring. This is a work in progress with For more information, you can contact Maria Matthes on
improvements and refinements to collection and 0467 855 990 or maria@healinghistory.com.au and for
processing anticipated to improve techniques and yield updates, plans, reports, go to the Transport NSW
more useful results. website https://www.pacifichighway.nsw.gov.au/environ
ment/wildlife-management/koalas
The Population Monitoring is a 15 year study, currently in
its 3rd year. Unfortunately, the limited number of samples
FOK Training Takes off!
By Katrina Jeffery, Acting Training Coordinator
Wendy Bithell and I have been working hard over the last wait to launch over the next month!
couple of months to take FOK training online. We are
incredibly excited for the opportunity to be creating this If you are a current volunteer and are interested in being a
ground-breaking work as FOK will have the first online system tester, please get in touch with the FOK Office. We
koala rehab training school in the world! are after 5 willing volunteers to provide valuable feedback
on the experience in the virtual school, the layout, flow and
This will not be for people to sit and read boring documents logic of the new school. You would need to commit to
online, then yawn their way through exams. The virtual testing within timeframes, and providing detailed feedback
school will give learners a host of multimedia learning so that you truly contribute to this fantastic new system.
opportunities and a range of interactive learning and If you are interested, please call the FOK Office on
assessment tools including a virtual classroom. We can’t (02) 6621 4664.
Call Koalas-in-Trouble 6622 1233 24hr Rescue Hotline Report sightings online at www.friendsofthekoala.orgTreetops News Page 11 Autumn/Winter 2020
Adopt a Koala Update
By Claire Agnew, Manager Operations and Communications
Volunteers working for Koala Rescue, Rehabilitation & Release Research Advocacy Education Habitat Restoration
Triumph has kept us busy although we haven’t had visitors for a few
months. As many of our members would know, Triumph was born with
only three feet and although he has very good climbing skills, he
wouldn’t do well out in the wild, so now calls Friends of the Koala home.
Recently, we were approached by a very generous donor from the US
who is prepared to fund a prosthetic foot for Triumph! We are so
thankful as prosthesis treatment can be very expensive. Our vets Jackie
and Robyn took a cast of his stump several weeks ago which was sent to
the States. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, the cast is still in transit but
has at last reached America. Triumph will be the first koala to get a
prosthesis so it will take some trial and error to get right but we hope it
Triumph sporting his bootie
can increase his quality of life in the longterm – so watch this space! In
the meantime, Triumph is content wearing his bootie when climbing
around his run.
In March, Sweetie our longest permanent resident passed away at the
impressive age of 9. We noticed a marked change in her demeanour and
behaviour. Initially we thought from her test results that she had chronic
pancreatitis but she was found to be suffering from typhlocolitis and
multiple cysts on her pancreas. Typhlocolitis is the inflammation of the
caecum and colon and is most often a fatal condition. She was unable to
eat and was in extraordinary pain and after being seen by 4 vets the
difficult decision was made to euthanase her. At 9 years of age we can
Vale Sweetie
call her an old girl and there is no question she was treated like a queen
the entire time she was in care with Friends of the Koala.
Sweetie shared a run with Lauren and Charlotte who have been
struggling with her loss. She must have been the peacekeeper because
Lauren and Charlotte are constantly bickering about who gets the best
perch.
Lauren has active Koala Retrovirus (KoRV) which causes
immunodeficiency making her more susceptible to infectious diseases
and cancers. She requires constant monitoring especially in winter but
thanks to our Vet team, Lauren’s health has improved significantly by
a few changes in her daily supplements. Due to KoRV, Lauren is quite
small compared to other female koalas, but what she lacks in stature
Lauren the sticky beak!
she makes up
for with her huge personality! She is bossy and continues to deflect
Charlotte’s advances to be her best friend.
Charlotte continues to amuse us with her antics and is beautifully
healthy. Her hip dysplasia means she can’t jump but her climbing skills
are excellent and she is very strong even though she is small.
You can see regular pictures and stories of all our koalas on Facebook
and Instagram – please follow us!
Charlotte enjoying her favourite pastime … eating
Call Koalas-in-Trouble 6622 1233 24hr Rescue Hotline Report sightings online at www.friendsofthekoala.orgIF UNDELIVERABLE RETURN TO:
FRIENDS OF THE KOALA INC
PO BOX 5034
EAST LISMORE NSW 2480
PRINT POST APPROVED
1100002148
Treetops News Page 11 Autumn/Winter 2020
Koala Care, Research & Education Centre
23 Rifle Range Rd, East Lismore NSW 2480
Phone: (02) 6621 4664
24hr Koala Rescue Hotline (02) 6622 1233
info@friendsofthekoala.org
friendsofthekoala.org
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and release koalas | License No. MWL000100225 | ABN 69322819171 | Fundraising Authority CFN 17840You can also read
