There are many opportunities to get involved in helping save our koalas and other native wildlife. You may want to protect koala habitat on your land, report on koala sightings and health, volunteer as a wildlife rehabilitator or join a community conservation group.
You can also manage your dog to help stop dog attacks and drive carefully through koala habitat to reduce the chance of hitting a koala.
Join or support a wildlife rehabilitation group
The NSW Koala Country website brings together people and organisations working on koala conservation activities, providing resources and opportunities for the community to get involved in protecting our koalas. It provides a list of organisations that are dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of sick, injured and orphaned koalas in your area, along with other koala conservation groups that need your help.
Report koala sightings
You can contribute your koala sightings to the NSW Government's BioNet Atlas database using the 'I Spy Koala' app (visit the Apple or Google app stores to download the I Spy Koala app.). All information in the database is made publicly available through the NSW Government's Sharing and Enabling Environmental Data (SEED) portal.
We encourage you to continue to report any injured and sick koalas directly to your local licensed wildlife rehabilitation group.
Help sick and injured koalas
If you see a sick or injured koala, you should contact a licensed rehabilitation group or call us on 131 555. The NSW Wildlife Council can also help you locate authorised volunteer wildlife rehabilitator.
Signs of a sick koala can include infected or inflamed eyes (conjunctivitis), a wet and dirty bottom (cystitis) and sitting at the base of a tree for an extended period of time.
When a koala is on the ground injured or sitting at the base of a tree for an extended period of time:
- if it is safe to do so, approach the koala from behind and place a washing basket (or similar item with ventilation) over the koala
- put something heavy on top of the basket to stop the koala moving away and climbing a tree
- ensure the koala is left in a quiet and stress-free environment
- call a local wildlife rescue group or vet as soon as possible
- don't try to move the koala other than out of harms' way, as relocating the koala to a new area can sometimes do more harm than good.
When a koala is stuck in a fence:
- don't try to help the koala
- provide some shade for the koala if it is in the sun
- call a local wildlife rescue group, or vet as soon as possible.
Other ways you can help koalas
There are actions we can take, individually and as a community to reduce some of the major threats to koalas and keep them safe.