The Redland City Council has initiated a range of innovative partnerships that allow koalas to be monitored using mixed methods, providing accurate information about koala populations and ensuring that residents are engaged and have access to the latest information about koalas in their local communities.
Using and comparing mixed Koala monitoring methods
The Redland City Council are working with CSIRO and University of the Sunshine Coast (USC) to compare the benefits of using multiple methods to find and share information about Koala population status and trends in this South-east Queensland urban areas. This will be supported by Council-run community awareness programs to encourage residents to create ‘Koala-safe’ backyards and urban areas.
Data collected using USC's Bluetooth technology will be introduced to track sick or injured animals that are rehabilitated in the wildlife hospital or found using detection dogs or thermal imaging drones. This information will be added to the koala citizen science sightings collected through the Koala Watch Atlas of Living Australia program to encourage community-led engagement, environmental and education programs.
National Koala Monitoring Program
The NKMP is supported by the Australian Government’s Bushfire Recovery for Wildlife and their Habitatprogram.