Millions spent on koala ‘census’
A major audit of koala habitats will count the total number of marsupials throughout Australia, examining how well protected they are from bushfires.
A major audit of the nation’s koala habitats will count the total number of marsupials throughout Australia and examine how well protected they are from the next bushfire season.
Environment Minister Sussan Ley will commit $2m of an $18m koala package to undertake the audit — led by Sydney’s Taronga Zoo — with the rest going towards health research, medical support and the restoration of koala habitats damaged in the Black Summer fires.
Ms Ley said the audit would establish an annual monitoring system on koala whereabouts, which would help with breeding and bushfire readiness.
“For all our focus on koalas, scientists are telling us there is a serious lack of data about where populations actually are, how they are faring and the best ways to help them recover after the devastating bushfires,” she said.
“$2m from this package will be devoted to filling those gaps, identifying where koala habitat areas can be expanded and establishing an annual monitoring program.
“Taronga Zoo is a shining example of what can be achieved, where staff are utilising Australian government funding to identify emerging risks following the fires, develop captive breeding programs and build future bushfire response capacity.”
The Morrison government’s moves come as the NSW government is divided over protection of koala habitats. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian last week sacked parliamentary secretary Catherine Cusack for voting against a bill to give farmers more leeway to clear trees off their land.
Under the federal government’s koala package, annual reporting on koala populations and conservation strategies will become a mandatory agenda item at meetings of the nation’s environment ministers.
Scientists will use drones, detector dogs and civilians to monitor koala habitats every year.
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