WE ALL love them but how much do we really know about our beloved Australian koala?
A direct descendant from the original Victorian koala gene pool, the Strzelecki South Gippsland Koala is the most important koala population remaining in Victoria.
All other local koala populations are the result of translocations from a handful of animals sent to French Island in the late 19th century. The Strzelecki animals may now hold the key for the survival of the species in Australia, as koala populations in Queensland and New South Wales continue to succumb to a variety of problems.
The Loch-Nyora Landcare Group is planning a South Gippsland Koalas are Special Information Day at the Loch Public hall from 11am on Sunday, November 9.
This koala’s genetic diversity makes them more resilient to threats like disease and climate change, highlighting the crucial importance of conserving their fragmented habitat.
Similar to koalas in other parts of Australia, the South Gippsland population of Strzelecki koalas faces threats from habitat destruction for farming and urban development.
The South Gippsland Landcare Network assists landholders
with activities like fencing, weed control, and koala habitat revegetation with a focus on improving habitat quality and creating corridors to connect fragmented areas to allow koalas to move more freely between forests.
To find out more about the Special Koalas Landcare event, look for South Gippsland Koalas are Special on Facebook or phone Malcolm Brown on 0403 997 831.
