FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED….
…..from the President Of the Mornington Peninsula Koala Conservation. Dirk Jansen (above) spoke at the SCA’s AGM in August 2024 and said while there were still koalas in Shoreham, they were reducing in numbers. Here’s what we learned.
1. Koala facts
How to tell the difference between a male and female koala? Females have a white chest, are smaller with a round nose and “really big, fluffy ears”. Koalas are most active between dusk and dawn, but are still around during the day. The joey stays in the mother’s pouch for six months and spends another six months on her back. Koalas live for about 16 years.
2. Why are numbers declining?
Dirk said it was “death by 1000 cuts” - lots of small decisions are reducing numbers - although we don’t know precisely how many koalas live on the Peninsula. Thirty eight koalas and 10 kangaroos were killed on the Peninsula since October. “Road kill is obviously terrible. Dog attacks happen very regularly. But really, the main driver for the loss of wildlife is the loss of habitat and the loss of vegetation. Individually, losing one tree on one property, doesn't sound like much, collectively over the years, it makes a massive difference”. More than 70 per cent of available koala habitat is on private property.
3. What koalas need
The tree canopy on the Peninsula is slowly increasing. It’s now around 30 per cent and the aim is to get it to more than 40 per cent. “The presence of koalas is aligned absolutely with tree canopy.” Old habitat trees are constantly being taken down, from Merricks Beach to Mt Eliza. Koalas prefer tall and old trees - Manna Gums, Swamp Gums, Narrow leaved Peppermints. It takes at least 5 years to grow from tube stock to a size that might interest koalas.
4. What the group is doing
It revegetates properties on private properties, all done by volunteers. “We don't plant koala tree plantations, no animal benefits from a monoculture of just the same tree being planted. So we plant trees, shrubs, grasses, because we want to bring back, ultimately, what was originally growing in an area.” The aim is to plant 25,000 plants across the Peninsula each year.
5. What can you do?
Report koala sightings, especially if they are near or on roads and report the removal of vegetation. “I know it's sometimes soul destroying when you think, Oh God, I need to write another email to the council. But please report vegetation removal”. Use the Snap, Send Solve app or email the Mornington Peninsular Shire. And support the Mornington Peninsula Koala Conservation.
