Help track koala numbers across South Australia in the Great Koala Count
If there’s one Aussie animal we all stop to stare at, it is the eucalyptus-eating, tree-napping koala. And right now South Australia needs help keeping an eye on them.
Koala numbers are under pressure from drought, disease, habitat loss and old bushfire scars. The Great Koala Count is back from November 15 to 23, and organisers want everyday South Aussies to jump in and help track how our koalas are coping.
“This year’s Annual Great Koala Count in South Australia is providing more than just a census of a species, it’s a call to action, to assist the local koala population,” says Flinders University’s Professor Karen Burke da Silva, who leads the SA National Koala Monitoring Program.
“We’re particularly concerned about how this year’s drought may be influencing koala numbers, so this count will help us understand the environmental stressors affecting these animals and guide future conservation efforts.”
Adelaide Hills, Mount Lofty Ranges, Fleurieu Peninsula, Kangaroo Island, the South-East, Riverland and Eyre Peninsula are all key areas where sightings matter most. Last year saw 367 submissions, and the team hopes to top that.
Professor Karen Burke da Silva is calling on locals to download the Koala Spotter app and log any sightings. The data helps pinpoint koala hotspots and guide long-term conservation work. “The end goal is to ensure that koalas not only survive, but thrive in South Australia.”
The research team behind the program has now gained national attention, recently winning a Eureka Prize for Scientific Engagement through this important wildlife monitoring.
Download the Koala Spotter app
Apple: https://apps.apple.com/au/app/koala-spotter/id6450281064
Android: Google Play Store
More info: www.nkmp.org.au
We love a good community effort. See more South Aussie stories here.
