A KOALA walk at Cleveland has drawn a crowd of about 30 people who managed to see five of the eight koalas being tracked as part of a research project.
Koala Action Group president Debbie Pointing said two of the koalas – Ethan and Kasey – were in a large eucalypt which was in a unit complex on Shore Street East.
“The family tree appears to be very significant socially for the koalas in the area and also plays a role as a nursery with up to four koalas sighted at any one time in the tree, including adult females and different aged juveniles,’’ Ms Pointing said.
“KAG’s aim with the tracking project is to highlight the presence of this koala colony living in the Toondah Harbour precinct with community members, council representatives and also tourists.’’
The tree showed how important it was for Redland City Council and developers to leave remnant trees on footpaths and development blocks.
Crs Tracey Huges and Peter Mitchell also attended the event.
Ms Pointing said veternarian checks undertaken throughout the project to monitore the health status and reproduction rate of the koalas.
This showed that two of the females were carrying pouch young.
“We also want to provide robust scientific data on habitat usage to ensure habitat trees are protected in the future and intend to work with council to have additional planting done as well as look at traffic calming options on the roads where the koalas are known to be regularly crossing,’’ Ms Pointing said.
