Burnett Koala Program

With large expanses of open eucalypt forests and no-one formally or purposefully looking for koalas in the Burnett region since the statewide man hunts ended in the 1920's, gathering information of where they are was always going to be challenging.

WE NEED CITIZEN SCIENTISTS (the Sherlock Holmes of community). And lots of them!

The program is designed to engage individuals and entire communities, geographically isolated from each other across an area of approximately 43,450km², nearly 2/3 the size of Tasmania (68,401 km²) and 25% larger than the South-East corner of Queensland (35,248km²), to tell us if they had seen a koala. And if so, when, where and if possible capture a photo for the permanent record.

Although the project targeted the Burnett catchment it more broadly covered the entire area serviced by the Burnett Catchment Care Association (BCCA), which includes the drainage basins of the Burnett, Baffle, Boyne, Burrum and Kolan river catchments.

Results from 2022 - 2023 are sumarised here: https://www.canva.com/design/DAFLnNZHhuk/LOaRiK_PbBHvnEadLCe5DQ/view?utm_content=DAFLnNZHhuk&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=publishsharelink

The first of five (5) 'Priority Action Areas' - Develop a baseline dataset of koala population dynamics and health for the Inland Burnett via DNA testing of scats, non-invasively collected by the community (described on page 23) is now being delivered by extending on previous citizen science engagement and activities. More information can be found here: https://betterburnett.com/burnett-koala-program-establishing-baseline-data-for-koala-populations/

If you are interested in getting involved in the Burnett Koala Program please contact Burnett Catchment Care Association at:
misty@betterburnett.com
07 4166 3898
www.betterburnett.com

Posted on Ιούλιος 25, 2023 0617 ΠΜ by misty-neilson