Project aims to help koalas

News source: Northern Times

BEERWAH-based Wildlife Warriors have launched a world-first research project into the high number of deaths among hand-reared male koalas after release.

Australian Wildlife Hospital manager Gail Gipp said as part of the project, driven by Steve Irwin's father Bob and Wildlife Warriors, 12 hand-reared male koalas would be fitted with radio-tracking collars when released in Blackbutt next month.

"We know from data that males are finding it hard and aren't surviving when they should be," she said. "They are young and healthy. There's no reason this should be happening, but the females are doing well in the same areas."

The 12-month research project will investigate migration patterns of rehabilitated koalas returned to the wild and their ability to re-establish home ranges.

Wildlife Hospital senior veterinarian Jon Hanger said the koalas would be recaptured after data was collated, and released without collars into their natural habitat.

The project had a $5,000 kick-start from Zarraffa's Coffee shops and hopes to raise $20,000 from a fundraiser.

Caboolture and Pine Rivers shires are among the biggest problem areas for sick and injured koalas.