THE survival and well-being of koalas in the Scenic Rim will benefit from a recent $8.5m State Government allocation towards expanding and improving their habitat and further vaccine research.
Funds for research into koala chlamydia will go to QUT and the Sunshine Coast University, while Queensland Trust for Nature and Healthy Land and Water will share in the funds for habitat restoration.
Since the Koala Habitat Restoration Partnership Program began, 14 project sites across council-owned and private land have been established to restore more than 400 hectares of koala habitat through a combination of revegetation and assisted natural regeneration.
The extension of the program will support the recruitment of further landholders and significantly expand the area of habitat of being restored.
The Miles Government has identified habitat restoration as one of six action areas in the Southeast Qld Koala Conservation Strategy 2020-25, which includes a target to restore 10,000 hectares of koala habitat.
The vaccination grants are targeted at progressing the development and registration of a koala chlamydia vaccine to enable wildlife hospitals, veterinarians and wildlife carers to support broadscale vaccination of wild and captive koalas.
Chlamydial disease is recognised as a significant threat to koala populations and is the leading cause of disease in koalas, causing high morbidity and mortality with clinical (chlamydial) disease observed in 30% of surveyed animals in SEQ.
Environment Minister, Leanne Linard, said the recent funding demonstrated the government’s commitment to koala conservation and its efforts to safeguard the unique ecosystems they inhabit.
“Under our strategy, vast tracts of essential koala habitat are being conserved and restored, and those areas will be carefully managed to ensure they continue to provide food, shelter, and safety for koalas and other wildlife,” she said.
