Since 2017 the koala population has increased with up to 7 sightings in a day. We are most likely to find them in the white gum, stringy barks and the blakely’s red gum. It is believed that the increase in numbers may be due to the koalas moving to the higher cooler climates as a result of climate change. These new populations are referred to as cool country koalas.
In 2018 the Sunshine Coast university carried out surveys in the Delungra area, including the bushland on Nordale to determine how they can best help the koala population in our district. They used detection dogs to help locate the koalas, which in itself was incredibly interesting. These dogs have been trained to track and locate the animals by following the scent of their excretions and scat.
The university was also very interested in collecting the scat for the study of genetics to determine the structure of the populations and if the are inbred
In October 2018 a koala took up home in a lemon scented gum tree at Nordale. It could be observed sitting up in the tree eating leaves and resting, As it was extremely dry I put a pot of water at the base of the tree for her to drink. I gave her the pet name of Muscles and she stayed with me for around 6 months. Recently she has been seen back in the tree.
In January 2021 when drought was showing first signs of breaking I was with Jack on our way to check sheep when we found a very young koala on the ground in the middle of nowhere. Apart from a small injury on his nose he appeared to ok. To pick up a koala can lead to some rather nasty scratches however this little fellow didn’t mind too much and to see him placed back in his tree was one of the warmest and most memorable things I have ever witnessed
time-2-share 