Koalas
In February 2022, the Australian Government uplisted the koala to Endangered in Queensland, NSW and the ACT.
Maintaining and improving koala habitat is essential for the survival of this most iconic Australian species. Koalas live all over the Scenic Rim, wherever their food trees grow.
Koala sightings
Scenic Rim Regional Council want to know about your sightings of koalas in our region.
Koala sightings provide vital local data about koala populations, habitat and where koalas are killed by vehicle strikes - this information is vital to protecting koalas.
Council is supporting koalas and the South East Queensland Koala Count in the Scenic Rim in 2023! We are encouraging residents and visitors to get 'koalafied' and make a difference for koalas this year.
From 25 September to 8 October get out into the Scenic Rim's National Parks, reserves, private properties, backyards, parks and quiet roadsides and capture sightings, scats and audio recordings of koalas for the Koala Count.
Upload your sightings and records to the iNaturalist app or website and help to create data about where koalas are across the region - creating a lasting impact on koala conservation.
You will find our Scenic Rim Koala Count 2023 project on iNaturalist.
Use this form to let Council know of your koala sightings no matter where you see them in the region and whether they are dead or alive.
You can also report koala sightnings on the QWildlife app.
These are our three preferred ways of logging koala sightings in the Scenic Rim.
Koala preferred food trees
Koalas are specialised foliovores - that is, they eat eucalypt leaves! They will repeatedly visit favourite feed trees within their home range.
In the Scenic Rim, koalas are often sighted in Blue Gums, Eucalyptus tereticornis. But Ironbarks are also very important feed trees in our region. In fact, when koalas from the Scenic Rim are taken to the RSPCA wildlife hospital, the carers need to cut ironbark feed specially for them.
This local preference means koalas live in our ironbark forests.
Koala habitat
Eucalypt forests and woodlands are home to koalas. The furry marsupials also depend on paddock trees, roadside trees and vegetation on waterways.
You can find out where koala habitat has been mapped by the State Government by requesting a vegetation management report.
Request a free vegetation management report or map
But remember that all across the Scenic Rim koalas live and breed outside of these mapped areas.
Check out the guidelines below for the revegetation of koala habitat.
Revegetating koala habitat - DCCEEW
Threats to koalas
Koalas face many threats. Habitat loss, disease, vehicle strikes, dog attacks and downing in backyard swimming pools are key threats.
The fragmentation of habitat, linear infrastructure projects and invasive species including environmental weeds all make life harder for koalas.
We all need to take action and work together to ensure that koalas persist and thrive in the Scenic Rim.
Learn more about threats to koalas and the signs of a sick or injured koala here.
Ways to Help Koalas | Wildlife Watcher
Koala breeding season
Koala breeding season in South East Queensland is from August to February. Breeding season is a time for increased movement and activity for koalas. At this same time, juvenile koalas disperse to find a home range of their own.
Koalas will be crossing roads more often during breeding season, so it is important to watch out for them when you are driving.
Koalas are highly active during dawn and dusk, so slow down on the road and watch out for wildlife.
Ways to help koalas
There are simple actions you can do to help koalas, including providing Council with koala sightings.
Learn more about ways you can help koalas, for example, keep your dog inside overnight, make your pool koala-safe and ensure your fencing is koala-friendly. You can access more information about these and other ways to help koalas here.
Ways to Help Koalas | Wildlife Watcher
Helping our local koalas
Council’s Biodiversity and Climate Change team are helping to build new habitats for our local koala population. Here’s a sneak peek of what this future forest will look like one day.
You can also download a Borobi Koala Colouring page here.
Download your Borobi Koala Colouring page
Scenic Rim Koala Forum
On the 6th July 2023, Council and Wildlife Watcher held a successful Scenic Rim Koala Forum. Check out the event recordings and learn more about koala conservation in the region.