It’s time to keep koalas safe this breeding season.
Koalas are at increased risk between now and January as they move around the city looking for a mate – but there are steps Gold Coasters can take to help protect them.
“Drive carefully in koala hotspots, keep your dog indoors at night, make your backyard safe for koalas to move around and report koala sightings,” Mayor Tom Tate said.
“We have identified the top 30 roads where wildlife-vehicle collisions occur. Collisions between koalas and vehicles are concentrated along several key roads within Currumbin Waters and Currumbin Valley, Elanora, Tallebudgera and the Burleigh Heads areas.
“Earlier this year, we launched the Wildlife-Vehicle Collision Mitigation Program which uses successful and tested measures that target high priority areas. These include fauna exclusion fencing and additional signage near koala habitat.
“Our aim is to change both wildlife and driver behaviour. Be mindful when driving on our roads during breeding season, especially between dusk and dawn.”
Conserving koalas has never been more important with their status changing from ‘vulnerable’ to ‘endangered’ (February 2022). Large-scale bushfires in New South Wales (2019-2021) and Kangaroo Island (South Australia) severely impacted koala numbers.
Gold Coasters may be closer to koalas than they think with 11.25% (34,072) of properties within just 100m of a known koala sighting and over 61% (185,619) of properties within 1km of a known koala sighting.
“This breeding season, consider how our actions impact our iconic native wildlife. Slow down, be a responsible dog owner and save a koala.”
