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Environment and Heritage
Environment and Heritage

Koala sentinel monitoring program: protecting our koalas for the future

This multi-disciplinary program is generating results that will help us better understand koala populations.

 

The koala sentinel monitoring program is the most comprehensive assessment of koala populations in New South Wales. The program gathers crucial data about individual koala populations to better understand their ability to survive and thrive over time.

In its first year, the program has assessed 300 koalas at 6 sites. Data and samples have been collected to investigate the complex factors that influence koala health, movement, and reproduction. Each site will be monitored yearly, for up to 3 years.

Initial results show variations in age structure, breeding success, and disease prevalence within the different populations being monitored. We are also assessing critical threats to koala survival, such as predation, ability to adapt to climate change, habitat loss and fragmentation, and surrounding land-uses, to better understand their impacts on koala populations.

Monitoring sites

The 6 sites are located across the state including Richmond Range National Park on the far north coast, Kanangra-Boyd National Park in the Greater Blue Mountains area, and national parks and reserves in Port Macquarie on the mid north coast, the Southern Tablelands, Narrandera in the Riverina, and Woronora Plateau south of Sydney.

Heat-sensing drones are used to find koalas at night, then animal handlers catch the koalas for assessment at a mobile field hospital run by the Taronga Conservation Society Australia’s veterinary team. Each koala is given a health check, and samples are taken to assess their health, disease status and genetics.

Each koala is fitted with an ear tag tracker before being released back into the tree from which it was caught. Some koalas are fitted with a GPS tracker so we can watch and record their movements for up to a year. Data from GPS trackers is used to understand the movements of koalas at each site, including valuable information about their home range and health.

Leaf and scat samples are collected to gather data on nutrition and other ecological variables. These samples are analysed by researchers at the University of Sydney, Western Sydney University and Australian National University.

A basic black and white map of New South Wales showing locations of the 6 sites at which koalas are assessed in the sentinel monitoring program. The sites are located across national parks and reserves on the far north coast (Richmond Ranges National Park), mid-north coast (Port Macquarie), Southern Tablelands, the Riverina (Narrandera), Kanangra-Boyd National Park and Woronora Plateau (south-western Sydney).

Map showing locations of the 6 sites at which koalas are assessed in the sentinel monitoring program.

Program partners

  • Taronga Conservation Society Australia
  • NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
  • NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
  • The University of Sydney
  • Western Sydney University
  • Australian National University
  • CSIRO 
  • Non-government organisations
  • An animal handler climbs a rope that hangs vertically alongside the smooth trunk of a eucalyptus tree
    Animal handler climbs a tree to catch a koala
    Animal handler climbs tree to catch koala
    Image Credit: Larry Vogelnest
  • Two researchers stand in front of a vehicle testing a drone. The drone hovers in front of the 2 researchers who are holding remotes
    Researchers test heat-detecting drones before they send them on a night flight to find koalas
    Researchers test heat-detecting drones before sending them on a night flight to find koalas
    Image Credit: Larry Vogelnest
  • The eye of a baby koala looks out of its mother's pouch held open by a human hand with latex glove on
    Baby koala in its mother’s pouch during veterinary examination
    Baby koala in its mother’s pouch during veterinary examination
    Image Credit: Larry Vogelnest
  • A transparent tent with a light on inside forms a koala field hospital set up in a small clearing in a bush area the
    Koala field hospital set up
    Koala field hospital set up
    Image Credit: Taronga Zoo Conservation Society
  • A koala holds onto the base of a large tree trunk as a researcher kneels on the ground behind the animal holding the bag from which it was released
    A koala is released onto the tree from which it came
    A koala is released back onto the tree from which it came
    Image Credit: Jed Nielsen
  • Koala turns its head to face the camera whist holding onto the trunk of a large tree
    Koala climbing the tree from which it was caught
    Koala climbing back up the tree from which it was caught
    Image Credit: Jed Nielsen