THE STORY OF NARRANDERA KOALAS

Koalas were introduced to Narrandera Nature Reserve in 1972-1974 from North-eastern NSW, French Island in VIC, and South-eastern QLD. The introduced koalas appeared to thrive on the river redgum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) diet. The colony has increased to over 200 in the Narrandera Flora and Fauna Reserve, the first conservational translocated koala colony is thriving and spreading in all directions along the Murrumbidgee River corridor.

The local koala habitat in the Riverina includes river redgum, black box, grey box, yellow box, and poplar box. Ancillary koala habitat trees include white box and white cypress pine. Local organisations such as the koala committee, wildlife rehabilitators, and veterinarians are responsible for overseeing the welfare of the free-ranging koalas on behalf of the Narrandera Shire Council.

After increased deaths of koalas crossing the Newell Highway during the breeding season, a ‘floppy top’ koala exclusion fence was erected along the highway, redirecting the koalas to safe under-bridge crossings.

Since 1988, volunteers and National Parks and Wildlife Service Officers have monitored the koala population through annual Koala Counts. The inaugural research of the Narrandera koala population led by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service began in June 2022 assessing the health and genetics of the population. The NSW Koala Strategy aims to double the number of koalas in NSW by 2050, through building knowledge, habitat conservation, improving koala health and safety, and supporting local communities to conserve koalas.

KOALA SURVEY

Charles Sturt University is gathering information on koalas in the Riverina located in or dispersing from the Koala Reserve in Narrandera to find out how healthy and abundant koalas are and what habitats they prefer. There has been an estimated 30% reduction in koala numbers over the last 3 years, the koala is now classified as endangered in NSW, ACT and QLD. Reporting and describing your sightings of koalas can assist with the conservation of the koala. The aim is to continue the long-term monitoring of koala populations in Narrandera and adjacent koala habitats in the Riverina.

How you can help 

Community participation is valuable in mapping current koala distribution and monitoring changes in koala populations over time.

Step 1 – Read the Participant Information Sheet

The Participant Information sheet can be found here.

Step 2 – Complete the survey

Once you have read the Participant Information Sheet, follow the link provided in the Information Sheet to open and complete the survey.

In the survey you can record:

  • The location of a koala you have seen directly or on an online map or by GPS coordinates.
  • The koala status (alive, injured, or dead).
  • Circumstances of koala sighting (date, time, breeding activity, ear tag, etc.)

The information will assist to:

  • Identify where koalas are present & absent
  • Detect changes in koala populations over time, e.g. declines, overabundance
  • Identify threats to our local koala populations
  • Help wildlife authorities make conservation plans

For more information regarding the koala survey contact:

Dr Joanne Connolly – School of Agricultural, Environmental & Veterinary Sciences

Charles Sturt University, Locked Bag 588 Boorooma Street Wagga Wagga NSW 2678

wildlife@csu.edu.au

Your privacy is of utmost importance to us. All respondent identities will be kept strictly confidential. While we understand if you prefer not to provide your name and address, we kindly request that you still fill in the other details on the survey form and maps or provide GPS coordinates.

Good luck with koala spotting & don’t forget to keep in touch!

This project has been generously supported by the NSW Koala Strategy, Department of Planning and Environment.

assorted koalas

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