Canines for Wildlife (2024). Canine Scent Detectives Promoting Koala Population Health in Bellingen Coffs Harbour LGAs. Prepared for Jaliigirr Biodiversity Alliance.
Executive Summary
One hundred and fifteen sites within the Bellingen-Coffs Harbour LGAs were surveyed by the Canines for Wildlife detection dog team for koala scats between June 2020 and January 2024.
Over 700 koala scat locations were recorded, and 155 samples were collected. The samples were processed to have the DNA extracted from koala epithelial cells attached to the external surface of the scat. The DNA extracted allows researchers to understand the level of relatedness between koalas, as well as the disease status of the koalas.
Ninety-two koalas were uniquely identified across the project area. The Bellingen-Coffs Harbour koala population is shown to be of high genetic diversity with a low presence of Chlamydia disease.
The study also showed that koalas in Bongil Bongil National Park, on the eastern side of the Pacific Highway, and koalas in Gleniffer, on the western side of the Pacific Highway are closely related. This emphasises the importance of the overpass and underpasses of the Pacific Highway and the importance of having connected koala habitat along corridors. It also highlights the significantly important contribution private lands are making to connecting and preserving koala habitat.
In some of the study sites, several individual koalas separated by 5-13kms were found to be related, showing that individuals are using these habitat corridors and crossing land tenures to interact. Some koalas are moving across the urban areas of Coffs Harbour. Maintaining these habitat connections is important in maintaining a genetically robust population.
The location of a group of Chlamydia free koalas in the Fernbrook cluster is interesting and could highlight a healthy group of koalas of high conservation value. More koala scats need to be found in this area for analysis.
Despite the loss of habitat in the Bellingen-Coffs Harbour LGAs, a healthy population of koalas seems to persist. This study shows the importance of the remaining wildlife corridors, and by extension, hints at the risk to this population should those corridors be broken.
See: Great Koala National Park; koala; Open for Debate: Koalas
