Queensland Koala Crusaders (QKC) are establishing a team of koala rescuers to watch over the area’s dwindling population.
Over the weekend a group of about 35 people took part in an information day to learn more about koalas and their habitat from Moreton Bay Koala Rescue’s Anika Lehmann and Wildcare Australia’s Rachel Lyons.
Several koalas have recently been identified suffering illness and captured by QKC for treatment before being released back into the wild after their recovery.
QKC president Meghan Halverson said members of the new team will soon take part in practical rescue techniques including tree climbing.
On Sunday a group led by crusader and photographer Bernard Jean walked through bushland at Noosa Heads in search of koalas. Bernard travels the park each week to keep an eye on the koalas and knows their favourite trees. Along the way he pointed out trees where koalas with the chlamydia bacterial infection had recently been captured. Meghan said in the 1960s more than 100 koalas lived in the area and people bushwalking would almost always sight them. There were no koalas sighted on Sunday.
This evening at 6pm Meghan will discuss Wild Koala Day at the Rotary Club Noosa Daybreak Bookfest preview evening at the Noosa Leisure Centre. For more information visit www.koalacrusaders.org.au
