UPDATE: A remarkable sighting of a female koala with a juvenile in Wapengo has experts on the Far South Coast buzzing with optimism about the region’s koala population. Stephen Tonkin spotted the duo at 10:20 PM on October 17, 2023, declaring it the first koala he has seen in 40 years in the area.
This sighting is crucial as it suggests that the local koala population may be on the mend. Chris Allen, spokesperson for the Far South Coast Koala Action Network (KAN), expressed his excitement: “If someone sees a female with a young one, that’s fantastic.” His optimism is backed by last year’s thermal drone surveys, which recorded 50 koalas in the area south of the Murrah River, indicating a potential population of a few hundred in the region.
For the past two years, collaborative efforts involving the NSW Koala Strategy, National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), and Firesticks Alliance have focused on drone and acoustic surveys aimed at supporting endangered koalas and their habitats. Despite the belief that the local population is relatively small, the recent sighting brings renewed hope for the survival of koalas along the Far South Coast.
The area has remained largely untouched by wildfires for over 40 years, unlike regions devastated by the 2019-20 Black Summer fires and the recent 2023 Coolagolite fire. Allen noted that while koalas in the Wapengo region appear to be thriving, he has no evidence of breeding in the more heavily impacted areas.
Furthermore, it seems the koalas in Wapengo are likely chlamydia-free, a crucial factor for their survival. “In good conditions, these chlamydia-free populations can double every three years,” Allen stated. Chlamydia rates in wild koala populations can range from 0% to nearly 90%, leading to infertility and other severe health issues.
Local residents have also reported koalas crossing roads at night, particularly in Wapengo and surrounding areas. In 2021, Robert Bertram, a long-time koala protector, discovered fresh koala scat near his home, leading to the sighting of a koala that stayed in a mountain grey gum tree for three days.
This surge in sightings highlights the importance of tourism and conservation efforts. Carrie Dalziel, whose daughter captured footage of a koala near Wapengo, emphasized the need for road signs to protect these vulnerable creatures during the busy summer tourist season.
Allen reiterated the importance of community awareness: “They are really vulnerable to vehicles, especially at this time of year as the breeding season is in Spring.” He has been monitoring local koala populations since 1996 and encourages residents to report sightings through the free I Spy Koala app or online forms, providing crucial data for conservation efforts.
A spokesperson from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water (DCCEEW) echoed these sentiments, urging the public to protect koala habitats. “Even small actions, like planting suitable koala feed tree species, can help koalas move safely between patches of bushland,” they stated.
This recent sighting serves as a powerful reminder of the resilience of wildlife in the Far South Coast. Each confirmed sighting, especially one as heartwarming as a mother with a joey, is invaluable for understanding and protecting local koala populations. As conservation efforts continue, the community stands united in hope for the future of these beloved marsupials.
