About the Koala Volunteers
POSTAL
ADDRESS
Shirley Hopkins
6 Leeds Ave, Kawana QLD 4701
Email Contact Nick Quigley OAM and in the email subject put CQ KOALA
The Central Queensland Koala Volunteer Group has been established to support efforts to conserve koalas and other tree living mammals in Central Queensland.
The Koala Volunteers aim to seek the conservation of the koala and other tree living mammals in Central Queensland. This aims will be achieved by addressing the following objectives:
- Support research into koalas, other arboreal mammals and their habitat through (a) providing volunteer support to research projects, and (b) assisting in the raising of funds for research and the volunteer teams;
- Develop public awareness of the needs of koalas, tree living mammals and their habitat requirements generally;
- Foster community support for koalas and tree living mammals generally;
- Encourage and assist with the development of habitat rehabilitation projects where necessary through the region;
- Support the rehabilitation and release of sick, injured or displaced koalas and tree living mammals.
The Central Queensland Koala Volunteers are not about stopping development. The Koala Volunteers seek to encourage planned development, which allows for the co-existence of koalas and other tree living mammals with human activity.
Why do koalas need help in Central Queensland?
Across Central Queensland koalas are disappearing as a result of habitat destruction and alteration as the region's woodlands and forests are developed for agriculture, grazing, urban expansion and mining. Although koalas are still widespread across Central Queensland the populations are at an increased risk of extinction from drought, fire or disease which may affect them directly or the trees on which they depend.
Scientists don't have enough
information to determine the conservation status of the koala in this
region. In some areas, such as the Duaringa Shire, koala numbers appear
to have increased over the last few decades while in the Biloela area
koala numbers appear to have declined over the last few years. In the
Capricorn Coast area, east of Rockhampton, the species is all but extinct.
More research is needed to find out just what is happening to koala populations
in this region. The Koala Research Centre of Central Queensland has been
set up within the Central Queensland University to attempt to answer some
of the questions about koalas. Koala research is, however, labour intensive
and almost totally community funded. The Central Queensland Koala Volunteers
was established, as a non-profit organisation, to provide volunteer labour
and fundraising support for the koala research.
What about other tree living mammals?
Very little is known about the overall conservation status of any of the possums or arboreal rats and tree rousting bats. Because these animals use relatively small areas of habitat, national parks are probably large enough to protect these populations (although no one has really looked). The dependence of many of these animals on hollow trees as roosts may make them more vulnerable than koalas as inappropriate burning can eliminate potential hollows from an area even though the forest is protected. Outside of national parks the situation is the same as with koalas. Where trees are removed so are the tree living mammals.
Is there an answer?
In many parts of Queensland koalas and other tree living mammals live successfully alongside urban, rural and mining activities. In almost all cases this coexistence has come about by accident. With the right information, obtained through careful observation and research, viable habitat can be retained alongside active development or it can be regenerated on lands already fully developed.
Research needs lots of hands and eyes. Join the Central Queensland Koala Volunteers and you could help the researchers with their projects.
You can help by volunteering for research projects. The scientists at the Koala Research Centre will need assistance with (1) field koala surveys at various areas in Central Queensland (2) feeding experiments with captive koalas (3) recording koala sightings from Central Queensland.
Funds are needed to maintain the research effort, support the volunteer projects and assist with the care and rehabilitation of sick and injured animals. You can help by raising funds for research, donating money, time and ideas. In addition you can help to retain, restore and manage habitat. in your own area.
Memberships and funds raised by the Koala Volunteers are used to buy equipment for the researchers, to fund volunteer teams in the field and provide limited support for animal carers. Donations may also be made to the Koala Research Centre of Central Queensland and are tax deductible. Once your membership has been accepted you will receive a regular newsletter and information about upcoming events and meetings.