Building our knowledge of koalas

There’s still a lot to learn about koala populations and how to manage them in the long term.

We’ve identified the most effective ways to monitor koalas using scientific survey methods, such as thermal drones and acoustic recorders. We’re also collecting baseline data on koala numbers and health to guide conservation efforts.

By filling key knowledge gaps, such as understanding the threats koalas face, we can better support and protect them in the wild.

Key investments under the NSW Koala Strategy include:

• $20.5 million to collect baseline data on the current statewide occurrence of koalas and the health and genetic status of up to 50 koala populations by 2025
• $14.4 million to deliver a priority population monitoring program focused on 20 koala populations
• $5 million to support priority research projects identified in the NSW Koala Research Plan 2019–28.

Koala monitoring programs

To better understand changes in koala populations and inform koala conservation efforts, our scientists have developed 3 statewide koala monitoring programs.

Robust monitoring programs are important for koala management as they help to:

• understand what is driving population changes
• provide evidence to support policy, program design, and on-ground management activities or actions.

Our monitoring programs capture high-quality data to establish baseline information on koalas, detect and evaluate trends in populations, and develop models to predict the resilience of our koala populations.

Statewide monitoring

Three statewide koala monitoring programs are addressing knowledge gaps to support koala conservation and management across New South Wales:

1. The koala baseline survey measures koala distribution, occupancy and abundance at over 1,000 sites.
2. The koala priority population monitoring program uses acoustic-based monitoring to measure population trends of 20 priority koala populations.
3. The koala sentinel program assesses koalas for disease, genetic diversity, and ecology at the individual and population levels at 6 key locations.

Partners

Each program collaborates with partners to develop project scopes, deliver programs in the field, analyse samples and collect data, and builds capacity to support program delivery.

Our partners include:

• CSIRO
• Taronga Conservation Society Australia
• NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
• Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
• non-government organisations
• universities.

The results of the baseline survey will be shared with the National Koala Monitoring Program to inform the Australian Government's understanding of the distribution and abundance of koala populations in Australia.

The 3 programs use gold-standard koala survey methods, such as heat-detecting drones and acoustic recorders.

The NSW Koala Strategy, which began in 2021, included work to identify these best-practice methods to locate and monitor koalas.

Priority research projects

Koala research projects are prioritised in line with the NSW Koala Research Plan. Research priorities include the impacts of climate change and extreme weather events on koalas and their habitat, and koala disease interventions.

The findings of these research projects will inform conservation decisions. The NSW Government will continue to oversee the Koala Research Plan and hold biennial research symposia to review progress and update key knowledge gaps identified in the plan.

More information on how we’re building our knowledge about koalas can be found under Pillar 4 of the NSW Koala Strategy 2021–26.