Lismore, Port Macquarie, Port Stephens koala hospitals form the NSW Koala Hospital Alliance for conservation, rehabilitation

Three prominent wildlife conservation and rehabilitation organisations have joined forces to form the NSW Koala Hospital Alliance. Here’s what is means for our koalas.

The lone survivor of a spate of car hits on the Bruxner Hwy between Lismore and Casino,

Three of the state’s largest wildlife hospitals have announced the formation of the NSW Koala Hospital Alliance in Lismore.

The new initiative, aimed to foster collaboration in koala conservation, science, education, and culture, has been established by Koala Conservation Australia Limited (KCA) Port Macquarie, Friends of the Koala Inc (FOK) Lismore, and Port Stephens Koala Hospital (PSKH).

Aliison Kelly, President Friends of the Koala Inc (left) with Sue Ashton, Director/Chairperson, Alliance Convenor Koala Conservation Australia Ltd, and Ron Land, President Port Stephens Koalas in Lismore signing the NSW Koala Hospital Alliance (NKHA).

KCA chairperson and Alliance convener Sue Ashton said koalas were at “critical survival point”.

“Their numbers continue to decline due to habitat loss, disease, road strikes and dog attacks,” Ms Ashton said.

Treating close to 600 wild koalas every year, the new Alliance will draw over 700 wildlife carers plus 40 koala clinicians to supply care, clinical and habitat conservation expertise to injured, sick and orphaned wild koalas across NSW.

Additionally, the three Alliance members are engaged in science-based research targeting known diseases as well as the impact of climate change on koala populations.

One of the koalas being cared for by Friends of the Koala in Lismore.

FOK Lismore president Aliison Kelly said chlamydia was the number one cause of death for koalas.

“Friends of the Koala has made history by becoming the only wildlife hospital in NSW to receive a license to vaccinate all koalas coming through our hospital against chlamydia, in partnership with the University of the Sunshine Coast and New South Wales government,” Ms Kelly said.

The milestone took a decade of work and research to make happen and will “dramatically benefit” koala populations.

The Lismore koala hospital was established in 1986 to first create habitat for koalas then increased its focus to rescue and rehabilitation, obtaining its license from NSW Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) in 1993.

FOK’s care centre was opened in 2018 and became a specialist koala hospital in 2020, recently rebranding the hospital to Northern Rivers Koala Hospital.

Aliison Kelly, President Friends of the Koala Inc, with Sue Ashton, Director/Chairperson, Alliance Convenor Koala Conservation Australia Ltd, Ron Land, President Port Stephens Koalas, and members in Lismore for the signing the NSW Koala Hospital Alliance (NKHA).

Ron Land, Port Stephens Koalas president, said the Port Stephens Koala Hospital (PSKH) was currently undergoing a $2 million upgrade and expansion in response to increased demand for care and rehabilitation of wild koalas.

“The new facilities will include enhanced diagnostic capabilities with the introduction of a 132 slice CT, additional theatre capacity, a cutting-edge research laboratory aimed at conducting innovative research around koala reproductive technology, koala retrovirus testing and koala gut microbiome analysis,” Mr Land said.

Successor to the Hunter Koala Preservation Society established 1978, PSKH is licenced to rescue/rehabilitate/display wildlife and is an accredited wildlife hospital by NSW Veterinary Practitioners Board.

The hospital provides access, engagement and undertakes scientific research to increase understanding of koala/wildlife health and related issues with selected tertiary institutions.

Once wild animals are cured they are released back into the wild.

Koala in permanent residence at the Friends of the Koala base in East Lismore. Photo Cathy Adams / The Northern Star

In Port Macquarie, the Koala Conservation Hospital has been running for more than 50 years and is establishing a breeding program thanks to donations.

Koalas from the program will form part of the conservation strategy by being bred for and released in predetermined areas.

“The Alliance will work closely with local indigenous groups, drawing on Aboriginal ecological knowledge and environmental management to enhance koala conservation through the protection and rehabilitation of wildlife habitat,” Ms Ashton said.