Koala breeding season has begun, which means between now and January koalas are at increased risk as they move around the city looking for a mate.
While koalas have recently had their status changed from vulnerable to endangered, the Gold Coast is fortunate enough to have a number of koala habitat areas, with many of us closer to the furry natives than we might think.
“More than 60 per cent of the city’s properties are located within one kilometre of a known koala sighting and over 11 per cent of those properties are located within 100 metres of a koala sighting,” City of Gold Coast Senior Conservation Officer Lexie Webster told myGC.
“So we live closely to them, and we can all play a role in keeping them safe while they find their mate this season.”
Ms Webster said there are plenty of steps Gold Coasters can take to conserve the iconic Australian animals; including driving carefully and reducing speeding in koala hotspots and key vehicle strike areas.
“So what we’re wanting people to do is, particularly between dusk and dawn when the animals are most active, is pay attention to the signage on the roads.
“We only put them there where we know the animals are crossing, so if there is signage there slow down, particularly during those night-time hours when we know the animals are active.”
Collisions between koalas and vehicles are concentrated along several key roads within Currumbin Waters and Currumbin Valley, Elanora, Tallebudgera and the Burleigh Heads areas.
Ms Webster said keeping a “koala-friendly backyard,” by containing your dog at night and ensuring safe passage through the landscape, is also essential.
“The other thing people can do is keep their backyard safe, particularly during those evening hours.
“So we know dogs are a really big threat to koalas so we’re asking people to please keep them restrained at night-time when a koala might be going through their backyard.
“If you’ve got a pool that a koala can access, put a rope or a ladder in and then they can get out,” she said.
Learn more about how you can do your part to keep koalas safe this breeding season below:
Ms Webster also encouraged Gold Coasters to report any koalas that appear to be injured, in danger, or in distress to Wildcare Australia on 07 5527 2444 immediately and avoid interacting with the koalas.
“The other issue we’re having is that people come across koalas and because they’re so cute we want to pat them, but we have to keep in mind these are wild animals– they’re going to be distressed and we ask you to just look from afar.”
For further tips on how you can help protect the city’s koalas or to report a sighting, please visit cityofgoldcoast.com.au/koalas.
