Kangaroo Island koala population plummets to 5000-10,000 following devastating bushfires
The true cost of Kangaroo Island’s devastating bushfires is becoming clearer, with about about 40,000 koalas believed to have been killed.
SA News
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As few as 5000 koalas are believed to have survived the Kangaroo Island fires, with volunteers now grappling with the task of saving and feeding the remaining population.
Wildlife, Ecosystems and Habitat Bushfire Recovery Taskforce chairwoman Felicity-Ann Lewis said based on destroyed vegetation, only 5000-10,000 of the marsupials were believed to remain on the island, compared with 50,000-60,000 before the inferno.
Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park manager Sam Mitchell said he had taken in about 600 koalas at Parndana, but only about half those survived.
“I have plantations on my own property so we have enough to feed them but that will only last a few months,” he said.
The biggest challenge ahead was the lack of habitat, he said, and the organisation was catching koalas struggling to find food in decimated areas.
“You go out there and see there was one or two trees that didn’t burn and you’ll see 30 koalas in there,” Mr Mitchell said.
“We can move them from one small pocket to another pocket that didn’t burn but we need to check that area and make sure they’re not going to overpopulate it and cause more issues.”
“Kangaroo Island was considered the insurance population – the chlamydia-free population of koalas – so when you have anywhere up to 60,000 that’s a pretty good number that could save the species, and now we’re down to 10,000 so that’s another problem.”
The Environment Department has previously said it was confident the koala population would recover, after it grew from 18 animals introduced during the 1920s.
Dr Lewis said ecologists were monitoring how habitat loss was affecting the animals.
“We know they’ve moved up the island where there’s a bit more food supply,” she said.
“We don’t have the resources to bring 5000 koalas somewhere to feed them. At this stage people are just being calm and waiting to see how this pans out.”
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The Environment Department is carrying out fencing and baiting programs in an attempt to control wild cats and pigs, which are threatening some native species through predation and environmental damage.
Kangaroo Island Plantation Timbers executive director John Sergeant said an unofficial sanctuary had been created in a plantation at the corner of Playford Highway and Snug Cove Rd.
The 100ha patch of land was likely to now support about 500 koalas, he said.
“Some koalas have been making their way there and others have been put there,” Mr Sergeant said.
michelle.etheridge@news.com.au
Originally published as Kangaroo Island koala population plummets to 5000-10,000 following devastating bushfires
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