A4carolinetrackingb1
When our study site is hilly and rocky, we find high points to help track
down our koalas, plus the views are always worth the climb.
|
A4climbingpeople1
To catch a koala our researchers climb the tree using a caving ladder.
Once in the tree the researchers will use the poles with the hessian flags
to persuade the koala to back out of the tree where the ground crew is
waiting quietly to catch it.
|
A4dscf00191
The team of volunteers take a break from catching to have some lunch in
the shade.
|
A4fionanadgary1
While Garry uses the radio tracking receiver to get a fix on a koala,
Fiona radios the other tracking team to tell them where the koalas are.
|
A4grecheniggyb1
Gretchen, one of our volunteers from the US, holds on tightly to ‘Iggy’
so her measurements can be taken. The koalas are held firmly in bags to
stop them struggling, so they don’t hurt themselves or the researchers.
|
A4koala681 –
In the hot wether koalas often sit in the shady trees, making them hard
to find.
|
A4koala84veronica1
This koala, Veronica, has just been released after having her collar changed
and measurements taken, she pauses to get her bearings before continuing
up to her roosting tree in the canopy of the Blue Gum.
|
A4koalaladderpole51
To catch koalas, we use hessian flags on extendable poles to gently encourage
them from their trees to the ground. When the team is quiet and the flags
are well positioned the koalas simply climbs down to the ground where
it can be safely caught by the catching team.
|
A4myharntracking1
Koala volunteer, My-Harn from the US, is using a radio receiver with antenna
to track each of the koalas wearing a radio collar. By dialling in the
frequency of each individual radio collar, each individual koala can be
tracked each day during the field trip. The volunteers then record where
the koalas are in the bush and what trees they are in.
|
A4pa1200831
Not all koalas sit in gum trees. On St Bees Island we have found koalas
in all sorts of trees, including this beach she oak (Casuarina equisetifolia).
|
A4sidikireleasingb1
After catching a koala, the volunteers, always release it back into the
tree it was found in. When there are a lot of trees in the area, coloured
tape is tied to the trunk to show which tree the koala was in.
|
a4studl.jA4stud1.jpg
This male koala, called ‘Stud’ is often found in small bushy
trees where he is hard to see.
|
A4tarpcatchb1
Sometimes the trees are not straight and the koalas can be caught more
quickly (and hence, less stressfully) by encouraging them to the small
outer branches of the tree where they can’t hang on and will fall.
The catching team will always have a tarp ready to catch the koala, and
be wearing helmets with visors to make sure they are able to see the koala
at all times without being injured by any falling debris. In the background
there is always an experienced ‘spotter’ to keep an eye on
the koala and make sure the tarp is in the right location to catch the
falling koala. Remember that koalas often fall out of there trees by themselves
(especially when mating or fighting), so to catch them this way is no
more stressful then their day to day lives.
|
A4tarpcatch1
With the ground team in place with the catching tarp ready, the extendable
poles with Hessian flags are used to gently prod the koala to the small
outer branches. The small branches can’t hold the heavy koalas and
they slip from the tree and fall into the tarp. Once in the tarp they
are quickly rapped up and secured in a bag ready to be measured and weighed
|
A4teamcatch51
Experienced handlers secure the captured koala and place it into a sack.
|