Lake Macquarie City Council is embarking on a mission to uncover the elusive koala populations scattered throughout the region. The initiative aims to gather crucial data on koala numbers, habitats, and movement patterns to aid in their conservation. Manager Environmental Systems, Brendan Callander, emphasized the need for a comprehensive survey to better understand these iconic marsupials in Lake Macquarie.
Utilizing innovative techniques, the surveys will kick off with detection dogs pinpointing koala presence in their natural habitats. Subsequently, drones will be deployed to delve deeper into population sizes and the extent of their territories. This concerted effort marks a significant step forward, considering the lack of systematic koala surveys in the area, except for limited research conducted in specific zones.
The forthcoming surveys, funded in part by grants from the NSW Koala Strategy, will leverage past koala sightings spanning nearly two decades. By scrutinizing these records, the council aims to identify regions of ‘generational persistence,’ where koalas have thrived over successive six-year intervals, indicative of sustainable breeding populations.
Collaboration with neighboring councils, such as Port Stephens and Cessnock, underscores the collective commitment to koala conservation in the broader region. Targeted surveys will encompass various sites across Lake Macquarie, including privately owned lands identified as potential koala habitats.
Community involvement is pivotal to the success of this endeavor, with landholders encouraged to participate voluntarily in the surveys. Enhancing the local knowledge base on koalas is paramount for effective management and conservation efforts within the region.
Residents can also contribute by reporting any koala sightings through the I Spy Koala App, further enriching the data pool. The overarching goal is to safeguard and preserve the koala population within Lake Macquarie, with a reliance on community engagement and scientific research to drive these efforts forward.
For more information on the NSW Koala Strategy and ways to get involved, residents can visit environment.nsw.gov.au. The forthcoming surveys hold the promise of shedding light on the hidden world of koalas in Lake Macquarie and charting a path towards their long-term protection and sustainability.