Friends of the Koala

MEDIA RELEASE

1 September 2008

Living with koalas a special privilege

September marks Save the Koala month.

The Northern Rivers’ koala populations are amongst the State’s most significant. Many are highly visible, surviving in urban and closely settled rural areas.  

“Most residents of the Northern Rivers still have the opportunity to see koalas as they go about their daily lives,” said Friends of the Koala President, Lorraine Vass. “More and more people are demonstrating they care by reporting their concern for a koala and also habitat clearance issues.”

The Friends of the Koala Care Centre is now admitting an average of 5.5 koalas from across the Northern Rivers every week of the year, more than anywhere else in New South Wales. During the Spring and Summer months there are regularly over 20 koalas in care (some in home-care) at any one time. Disease is by far the most frequent reason for admittance. Vehicle impact is also high on the list. Over the past two months seven dog attacks have been reported, just over the same number for the whole of 2007-8.

“Whilst we welcome the focus that Save the Koala month provides, the most important thing any of us can do this year for the koalas is to elect candidates to Northern Rivers’ councils who are sensitive to their plight and who will make more effort to protect koala habitat,” said Mrs Vass.

Fundraising to extend the Koala Care Centre, which is located in a koala corridor in East Lismore, is underway. A full-scale campaign is being planned for 2009 which is the 20^th anniversary of Friends of the Koala being licensed to rescue, rehabilitate and release koalas.