145 koalas killed on Peak Downs Highway in a year leads to calls for wildlife hospital in Rockhampton
It’s Queensland’s deadliest highway for our iconic animal, and an avalanche of deaths has sparked calls for the government and miners to fund an animal hospital. WARNING: Distressing images.
A citizen scientist has the gnarly job of documenting all the koalas killed on a 50km stretch of highway which connects Queensland’s mines to Mackay.
In just 12 months honours student Charley Geddes and the team documented 145 killed on the Peak Downs Highway.
They have to photograph each one.
The koalas cross mostly between dusk and dawn and they move slowly which makes vulnerable.
Because they are barely visible little grey clumps on the road, they get wiped out by heavy vehicles.
It’s especially worse during their breeding time, from August to March, because koalas need to find a mate and leave their home grounds.
The Peak Downs Highway perfectly cuts through their habitat.
But it doesn’t have to be this dire — fencing which stops koalas from moving from one side to another could prevent a lot of carnage, the researchers claim.
And a long-overdue wildlife hospital funded by some of the billions of dollars coming out of the region would help save many more.
Dr Rolf Schlagloth, who leads the team, said if this many koalas were being killed in South East Queensland “everyone would be up in arms”.
“Here it disappears,” Dr Schlagloth said.
“The Gympie Bypass is fenced with wildlife exclusion fencing and has underpassing, koalas are excluded from traffic and guided underneath.
“We don’t have that on the Peak Downs Highway.
“It’s a lifeline in the Bowen Basin generating billions of dollars to Queensland and the resource industries.
“I’m sure there would be a little bit of a margin in there to support wildlife fencing on the side of the highway.”
There isn’t even a wildlife hospital in Central Queensland — Townsville has one, but the next one down is in the Sunshine Coast.
“A central Queensland wildlife hospital — possibly in Rockhampton — is long overdue regardless of the fencing,” Dr Schlagloth said.
“I’m sure the mining and alternative energy industries could commit a bit of money to fund it.”
Originally published as 145 koalas killed on Peak Downs Highway in a year leads to calls for wildlife hospital in Rockhampton
Cops call on courts to keep accused teen carjacker detained
A teenage delinquent who allegedly dragged an elderly woman from her car and took off driving at speeds around 180km/h has requested bail.
Revealed: Toowoomba’s top five teachers for 2024
For Toowoomba’s teacher of the year, being a role model is the most defining feature of a teacher, along with relationship building and simply showing your students you care. Meet the top five teachers here: