Gold Coast koala researcher calls on community to help save iconic animals being mowed down and bitten by dogs at ‘alarming’ rate
A Gold Coast expert has called on the community to help save endangered koalas as they continue to be run down on roads or mauled by dogs at a rapid rate – “the time to act is now”.
Gold Coast
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Dozens of endangered koalas have been mowed down on roads or mauled by dogs across the region in a matter of months.
In response, a prominent koala researcher has pleaded with the community to “help save” the iconic marsupial before they are gone for good.
Data from Gold Coast and Tweed councils shows since mid-July at least 31 koalas have been injured or killed by vehicles or dogs in the Tweed and 31 across the Gold Coast.
Both councils have been working to prevent further deaths. Koalas were recently shifted from vulnerable to endangered status by the federal government.
Currumbin Wildlife Hospital vet nurse research supervisor Lewis McKillop said it’s estimated there is only 2000-5000 koalas living in the Gold Coast and Tweed, but “it is difficult to establish” an exact number.
The animal hospital admits nearly 500 koalas annually. Chlamydia is the primary cause (300 patients) but vehicle incidents (100) and domestic dog attacks (60-70) are the main non-natural cause of admission.
Chlamydia is also the leading cause of death, however, vehicles and dog attacks are the most preventable,” Mr McKillop said. Work on a chlamydia vaccine has been underway.
Other causes of admission include habitat destruction, bushfires, swimming pool incidents and general displacement.
Mr McKillop said the rate koalas were being injured on roads and in yards was “alarming” rate.
“Those 61 koalas could be out in the wild breeding to secure their species,” he said.
“Every koala is precious. It is a great concern when we lose a koala.”
Mr McKillop said looking after koalas suffering from injuries was “devastating” for the vet team – and for the species as a whole, “especially now that the species is endangered”.
“It is heartbreaking, especially when we witness koala trauma at the koala crossings,” he said.
“Chances are koalas will cross at the ‘Koalas Cross Here’ signs.
“Everyone needs to take responsibility to protect this endangered species.”
Mr McKillop said it was “vitally important” to prevent road deaths and dog attacks.
“While Wildlife Hospitals can tackle koala disease, we need the community to help save koalas from vehicle strikes and dog attacks,” he said.
“We can’t continue to lose the numbers we are losing, or we won’t have any left. The time to act is now.”
Mr McKillop said his work was rewarding, despite obvious difficulties, particularly “when our patients are ready for release after weeks or months of treatment and rehabilitation”.
Gold Coast City Council is currently implementing the citywide Koala Conservation Plan to protect the animals. Tweed Shire Council rolled out the Tweed Coast Comprehensive Koala Plan of Management in early 2020.
The Gold Coast lost almost 45,000 hectares of primary koala habitats between European settlement and 2017 and WWF-Australia has warned koalas will be extinct in the wild in eastern Australian by as early as 2050 if current trends continue.
Donations to the wildlife hospital can be made online.
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