KoalaMap has been up and running for over five years now and has over 2,200 sightings reported by its members in NSW, QLD, SA, and VIC. These sightings are crucial to the AKF’s work: not only can we see where Koalas are, we can see how healthy they are (and if they have joeys) and the threats they face in different areas (disease, car strikes and dogs).This data provides us with the information we need to help protect Koala habitat in different areas. It is always gratifying for me personally that when people record the tree species they saw the Koala in that it is on our list of Koala food trees.

The other great thing about KoalaMap is that local residents might see a sighting on KoalaMap and think “that’s just down the road!” They will hopefully go out and make some sightings of their own, and might even meet similar-minded people on the way. This helps build community concern about the welfare of “their Koalas”.

Every sighting is important, and I’d like to share an example with you today.

Linda contacted the Australian Koala Foundation to report her sightings which go back as far as 1999. Since starting, she has logged 13 sightings, a treasure trove of information. Some of these sightings are in an area (Bellmere, near Caboolture) where the AKF didn’t know there were any Koalas. 

“Being involved in a shorebird study group for around 20 years I know the importance of getting records into databases”, Linda says. “[These records] are invaluable for helping analysis trends in movement and decline of species.  Having fauna sightings in notebooks and in computer files are of no use unless you can get them into databases where they then can become tools for predicting what is happening to our native wildlife and help the survival of all our species.

I cannot begin to tell you how privileged we have been to see numerous Koala on our property and at other locations. We need to treasure our wildlife so that the next generations can also be amazed at the unique wildlife Australia has. So, please make an effort to gift these valuable sightings to AKF and other relevant organisations.”

If you are thinking of reporting Koalas on KoalaMap, remember that you don’t actually have to see them – if you hear them or even find some Koala droppings, it is all good information which helps complete our understanding of where Koalas are and what they are doing.

Click here to access the AKF’s Koala Map. 
Don’t forget to create your account and login to post your sightings. 
The AKF thanks you for joining our community and helping our work to save the Koala.