Koalas are being killed on suburban roads in alarming numbers — here’s how you can help
Koalas are being killed on suburban roads in alarming numbers — here’s how you can help stop this tragedy. WARNING: IMAGES MAY BE DISTRESSING
Moreton
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NOW is the time of year when young males koalas puff out their chests and go on the prowl for a date.
Tragically, it is also the time of year when we see shockingly large numbers of koalas — both male and female — hit by cars and killed on our suburban streets.
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On Wednesday, a mother and her joey were clobbered by a vehicle in Joyner, killing them both.
Wildlife rescuer Karin Mac said the driver didn’t bother to stop and check if they were OK.
“I had been watching these two for weeks. They were down at Bullocky Rest.
“They were found dead on both sides of the road so the impact would have been bad,” she said.
“We don’t know if these two died straight away or not.
“A person walking past noticed them, took them both to her home and called the rescue groups.”
In Pine Rivers just last week, six koalas were killed on the roads over a seven-day period.
Most were known to local koala rescuers who work day and night to try and save as many as the little critters as possible from human incursion into their habitats.
“It is only the beginning of breeding season and already rescuers are being traumatised by what they’re seeing.”
In keeping with current 2020 trends, this year has been much worse for koalas in the Moreton Bay region than last year.
According to data from Moreton Bay Koala Rescue, there were more koalas killed in every month so far this year except one (April), compared with 2019.
The official koala breeding season runs from August until March but the younger males are out a bit earlier this year looking for a mate.
Moreton Bay Koala Rescue’s (MBKR) Mike Fowler said the younger males often came into conflict with the alpha males in an area fighting over the females.
He said they could end up being pushed out of their territory and forced to find another habitat nearby.
“Fifty years ago it wasn't an issue,” Mr Fowler said.
“Now with all the development in the area, they have to cross estates, roads and rail lines and it often doesn't end well for them.
“We’re starting to brace for the worst of it now.”
Moreton Bay Regional Council has been heavily criticised in the past for doing little to help koalas outside its prized koala management program in the Petrie Mill Precinct.
Koalas in that program are thriving, while those outside the mill site are being killed at alarming rates.
Mr Fowler said MBKR did not support relocating a koala from its urban habitat into a safer area outside that habitat, known as translocation.
“Translocation is really problematic, the koalas don’t manage well when they are shifted outside their home range,” he said.
“We also don't have any means of tracking them to make sure they are OK and surviving.
“You also need them to be able to thrive.”
He said Australian wildlife could survive in harsh conditions, but they did not cope well with change.
“They get stressed. They don’t know anything, the smells are different, the food is different. They don’t do well at all.”
SO WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?
“Slow down! Particularly at night,” Mr Fowler said.
“If someone hits a koala, we don’t have a bad opinion about them, but we do object to people who hit them and don't stop to check their wellbeing.
“Some of these koalas could be saved if they get to medical assistance quicker.”
WHO CAN YOU CALL?
● Moreton Bay Koala Rescue Inc (0401 080 333)
● Pine Rivers Koala Care (0401 350 799)
● RSPCA (1300 596 457)
WHAT IF YOU FIND AN INJURED KOALA?
Don’t pick it up! Mr Fowler said if it was on a road, try to shepherd it off to safety, while keeping safe yourself.
“If you have a rug or a jacket, try to cover it up and keep it from running up a tree,” he said.
“We don’t want people to pick up an injured koala, or any koala, because they are very dangerous animals.
“Even one on death’s door might get a shot of adrenaline and attack you.
“You can end up with stitches, deep puncture wounds and nasty bites.
“Wild koalas are very wild. They can break fingers with their teeth just from biting.
“We’ve had people put an injured koala in a jacket then on a person in the passenger seat of a car, thinking it is calm, then the koala has come round and attacked them.
KOALA STRIKE HOTSPOTS IN MORETON BAY
● Elizabeth St, Rothwell
● Youngs Crossing Rd, Joyner
● Dayboro Rd, Petrie
● Torrens Rd, Petrie
● Narangba Rd, Kurwongbah
● Eatons Crossing Rd, Warner/Eatons Hill
● Gympie Rd, Lawnton.