Koala Diaries Blog

This week I had the privilege of attending the Senate Inquiry hearing in Brisbane, held for the purpose of investigating the status, health and sustainability of Australia’s koala population.  I was one of 21 witnesses called to give evidence, and I therefore had the opportunity to explain the premise of Koala Diaries, and my thoughts on a number of the contentious issues relating to the management of koalas and their bushland habitat.   More

Today is Save the Koala Day, in Save the Koala Month. More

I was interested to stumble across a letter written to the editor of the New York Times in 1992.  It was an attempt to water down an earlier report in that very reputable publication that the koala was in dire trouble and on the fast track to extinction.  The letter was sent by a Mr Christopher Sweeney, Counsellor, Public Affairs at the Australian Embassy in Washington at that time. More

I am not a koala carer. Our website, Koaladiaries.com.au is born of the realisation that I am in the majority, knowing very little about the koala. Already it has taught me so much about this truly wonderful animal. I have learned from people around the country submitting sightings with details such as "sitting in a Jacaranda", "swimming from Rabbit Island to Newry Island" and more.  More

You might not have heard much about Koala Diaries in the press lately, but we have been busy with our heads down. But before I tell you what’s new and of interest, I have to say thank you. More

Does the Powerlines Action Group Eumundi (PAGE) really have a case against Powerlink, the government corporation responsible for the construction and maintenance of high voltage transmission lines? There is no question the quality of power supply to the northern end of the Sunshine Coast and hinterland is sub-standard and on the plus side, new high voltage transmission lines will smooth the spikes. On the negative, it will also deliver the infrastructure necessary for the government's desired doubling of population in the area. But wait, there's more... More

Overwhelmingly, the residents of the Sunshine Coast value their quality of life and recognise that the State Government’s pro-growth development agenda is eroding this lifestyle and the natural assets of the region - notably, our precious koalas and their habitat.   Make no mistake, the situation for our koalas has never been so dire.  More

Nothing is more heartbreaking to koala rehabilitators than the loss of a rescued, injured koala. A lot of expertise, time and emotional energy is invested in each and every animal saved. It is gut-wrenching for them to continue to treat the same animal, time after time as it is returned to the location of rescue, to again be hit by a car or mauled by a dog. There was a situation last year where the same koala was patched up four times, until he eventually died. To then hear as we did recently about a koala and her joey being shot, is devastating.  The baby joey, named Doug by rescuers, died this week.  More

It all began with some very hot days, and a few emails bouncing around the place early in 2009 showing photos of koalas reaching out - I mean physically hands up in the air, clearly asking for water. (See the Hot Days photo gallery.) Carolyn Beaton - close friend, neighbour, koala carer and, until recently, public relations manager at the Australian Wildlife Hospital - and I began a discussion about how great it would be to share with the world just how communicative, smart, funny and affectionate koalas really are.  More