Koalas

We all love our cuddly looking koalas…thanks to Sue for some facts and current Koala initiatives we can all support to maintain a healthy population in Shoreham.

There are possibly 5 or 6 in number that frequent Shoreham.

Mainly active in spring and summer months the male koala can travel large distances to cover an average of 600 trees. The female stays within a closer circuit.

Climate change is affecting the food supply for koalas. The amount of moisture within the eucalypt has reduced and in warmer weather koalas will seek water. With drying leaves through lack of moisture, this can lead to kidney disease.

Whilst koalas seem lazy creatures, they actually do not have enough nutrition in their diet to sustain their slow livelihood, therefore they are constantly seeking food.

They have become more mobile during the day whereas in previous years they would sleep all day and move more during the night.

With increase habitat loss and fragmentation of vegetation, clearing on housing blocks not just large scale properties, the koala is becoming more threatened in its ability to survive.

Koalas are very vulnerable whilst moving from tree to tree especially when crossing roads.

80% of koala fatalities occur in Spring and summer. In 2020 1 koala was killed each week on our roads.

Mornington Peninsula Koala Conservation (MPKC) through their projects to plant thousands of trees on private properties are working hard and with volunteer help to put back what has been lost.

 What you can do.

·      Report koala sightings to the MPKC website.www.mpkoalas.org.au

·      Preserve native trees on your  property .

·      Control invasive weeds as ivy, karamu, pittisporum, periwinkle, blackberry.

·      Keep Dogs on a leash when out walking and keep inside at night.

·      Plant native trees as manna gums, swamp gums, messmate and peppermint to help create wildlife habitat on your property.

·      Talk to friends about what you can do together to look after your roadside.

·      Ensure your fence if you have one is koala friendly. No barbed wire. No timber structure. Or place a style type structure koalas can climb over.