360,000 year old fossil koala tooth found in Central QLD
The fossil tooth was found at Capricorn Caves as part of Big Science Adventure and is being examined by Queensland Museum Palaeontologists, Dr Scott Hocknull and Rochelle Lawrence.
This discovery provides a fascinating glimpse into the prehistoric past of these iconic Australian creatures who once lived here at the caves.
The highlight of the day emerged when the final group of fossil hunters included the keen eye of Benjamyn Willson, who made an exceptional discovery.
Fines for dog attacks on koalas in Gold Coast
Gold Coast council has introduced laws to impose fines on residents whose dogs cause injury to people or wildlife, and to encourage more wildlife-friendly backyards.
From August 25, dog owners living in a koala habitat on the Gold Coast must construct steel or brick fencing away from trees to stop koalas from entering their yards, or install structures to help them escape if they do pay a visit.
Residents on larger properties must also keep their dogs indoors at night.
Failure to implement these measures will result in a $309 fine.
But wildlife rescuers fear the new animal laws could do more harm than good to conservation efforts.
Koala photo competition seeks to learn more about koalas in Burnett, QLD
A program which hopes to discover the best ways to conserve and protect koala populations in the South and North Burnett is offering prizes for koala photographs.
It has been operating since 2021, and its key focus is to develop community activities aimed at supporting the recovery of koalas in the Burnett.
It also hopes to showcase how agriculture and the environment can co-exist sustainably to the benefit of communities, the local economy and the environment.
The competition run by Burnett Catchment Care Association is seeking photos and past and present observations from across the region. The competition closes on 30 November.
Verrierdale - Queens Jubilee Planting
We gathered on Sunday, August 27 at the 170-acre property of a wonderful person named James, and his brother Janis, to finish our planting funded by the Australian Government for the Queens Jubilee. This was the second of two planned projects to plant on adjoining private properties to establish a wildlife corridor throughout that section of the Sunshine Coast Hinterlands. 35 new friends met on the day and we gave new homes to over 370 native species trees.
James and Janis have invited us back to continue to support their efforts to make their property a safe haven for wildlife migration. We hope to have more news in the future about this large scale project.
Volunteers Needed for Upcoming Events
We have several events over the next few weeks for our precious volunteers. Here is a list with further details of each further down the newsletter:
- Alsahwa - Free Community Rainforest Tree Planting - Sunday 17th September (see below)
- Two Little Witches - Working Bee - 30th September (see below)
- Bunnings Sausage Sizzle - Saturday 16th September (see below)
- Jazz, Blues and Koalas - FREE Event - Sunday 8th October (see below)
Raffle Prizes
We are on the lookout for some raffle prizes for the upcoming Jazz,Blues and Koalas event next month. If you are able to assist in this area we would love to hear from you.
Please email [email protected] with details.
Any support would be greatly appreciated.
Alsahwa - Free Community Rainforest Tree Planting - Sunday 17th September
Join us at ALSAHWA for a special event.
Being within nature and living with purpose allows us to connect with something bigger than our busy schedules. That's why we want to open our land and hearts to the community. Hold space for important conversations.
A conversation could change a life, and mental health is so important to us here at ALSAHWA.
So please, join us on Sunday the 17th of September in a Free Community Rainforest Tree Planting on our beautiful 38 acre property from 9am-1pm.
Two Little Witches - Working Bee - 30th September
Two Little Witches is having its first working bee for 2023! Join us on the 30th September from 11am till 6pm.
Things have changed a lot since the last working in 2022. The forest is blooming! Native grasses have taken over where lantana once choked the bush. And animals have more space to come and go.
We have some exciting things coming up for this working bee including special guests from the Queensland Koala Crusaders coming, and a special competition.
And there's the usual:
- lots of delicious vegan food
- lots of weeding
- lots of seeding, and
- lots of feeding cute cuddly farm animals!
Click here for more details and to RSVP via Facebook
Roving Restorers Program - Noosa Chapter - Friday 15th September
When: 8:30 AM, 15 Sep 2023 Friday
Where: Federal
Join the Roving Restorers Noosa Chapter, at a property at Federal, using best practice techniques to remove environmental weeds. Works undertaken will improve the biodiversity of the property and surrounding landscape.
Please contact Noosa Landcare Project Officer – Tamara - tamara.kubica@noosalandcare.org for further details.
Participants will be notified the day before the event of the exact location of the works.
Please arrive for an 8:30am start.
All tools will be provided.
Bring gloves, water, boots, sunscreen and insect repellent. Long-sleeved shirt, trousers and hat are essential (Workplace Health and Safety Regulations).
Roving Restorers Program - Noosa Chapter - Saturday 16th September
When: 8:30 AM, 16 Sep 2023
Where: Yurol State Forest
The Roving Restorer program will be conducting monthly working bees at the Yurol State Forest.
We will treat environmental weeds within the current remnant forest areas and along tracks and trails. This will help improve the resilience of both the existing high biodiversity remnant vegetation areas and also the long-term management of the revegetation areas. It also provides an opportunity to learn bush regeneration techniques, plant identification skills and to make new friends!
Please contact Noosa Landcare Project Officer – Tamara - tamara.kubica@noosalandcare.org for further details.
Participants will be notified the day before the event of the exact location of the works.
Please arrive for an 8:30am start.
All tools will be provided.
Bring gloves, water, boots, sunscreen and insect repellent. Long-sleeved shirt, trousers and hat are essential (Workplace Health and Safety Regulations).
This project has received funding support from the Queensland Government’s Community Sustainability Action grant program.
It's Save the Koala Month!
Save The Koala Day is celebrated on September 30 every year. It is a part of the Save The Koala Month celebrations organised by the Australian Koala Foundation (AKF).
The objective of these celebrations is simple — to save the koalas and their natural habitats, and raise awareness to prevent them from going extinct. Koalas are an important part of Australian wildlife. However, today they face the danger of disappearing due to human activities and the climate crisis.
You can do your part to prevent the unthinkable from happening by raising funds, donating or joining one of our volunteer events to do your part in this vitally important month.
Speake Marin Supports the Queensland Koala Crusaders with the Piccadilly “Academic Koala”
We are so excited and honoured to announce that the global luxury watch company Speake Marin has selected Queensland Koala Crusaders as partner for their Limited Edition Watch that supports global conservation.
The Speake Marin Art Series Koala is a limited-edition timepiece that is both a work of art and a symbol of hope for the future of koalas. The watch features a handcrafted dial with a micro-painted koala, and is powered by a finely finished automatic movement.
The watch is also made from sustainable materials, including a PET recycled nylon strap and a corn-based brown leather lining. This means that you can wear this watch with the peace of mind knowing that you are not contributing to the destruction of the environment.
Bunnings Sausage Sizzle - Saturday 16th September
Calling all volunteers for our first Bunnings Sausage Sizzle to be held at Bunnings Newstead, a very busy inner-city store, on September 16 from 9:00am. We are expecting a large crowd and it will definitely be a case of many hands make light work to feed them and provide vital funds to help with the running of QKC.
WHAT: Bunnings Sausage Sizzle September 2023
WHEN: September 16, 2023 at 7:00am
WHERE: Bunnings Newstead
The Sausage Sizzle starts at 9AM but we need help setting up which will probably be around 7, and goes to 3PM and we’ll need help tearing down, until around 4.
We will need folks for 3 hour shifts. Five people are needed per shift:
- BBQ Captain
- Runner/Float
- Order Taker
- Server
- Extra
Please RSVP here if you can help out
Jazz, Blues and Koalas - FREE Event - Sunday 8th October
Come and join us at “Jazz, Blues and Koalas 2023”, a koala awareness event hosted by Body and Soul Music and Events Australia and proudly supported by the Brisbane City Council and Councillor for Marooka Ward, Steve Griffiths and the Griffith University EcoCentre to be held at Griffith University EcoCentre on Sunday 8 October from 11 am to 7 pm.
There will be music, food and a raffle, along with lots of opportunities to learn more about koalas and how YOU can help.
Why not join one of the EcoTours and learn about Toohey Forest’s local fauna and flora? Or just relax and listen to the various musical performances and presentations scheduled throughout the day.
Check out the cool promotional video here
Register your interest at Jazz Blues and Koalas 2023
If you would like to volunteer for us on the day click here
My mum Kat and I are about to embark on an exciting Koala saving mission! We will be travelling the East coast of Australia for two to three months in our camper van called Bella, decked out with lots of koala goodies including cute soft toys (the travelling essentials).
The main purpose of our trip is to INSPIRE and INFORM. One way of doing this is to research information for our Koala Habitat Card Game, which we hope will raise awareness about our endangered Koalas and encourage more people to find ways to get involved and help secure their future.
We are looking for sustainable koala populations, other significant flora and fauna within their ecosystem and the variety and degree of threats affecting our furry friends in different areas of Australia. We intend to weave this information into a fun, family friendly card game that everyone can enjoy!
We would like to find as many wild Koalas as possible on our travels and will keep a running tally. Believe it or not, we are still yet to see one in the wild!
From Koala Hospitals, sanctuaries and rescue groups to Koala shops, tours, trails and festivals, you name it, we’ll find it!
We look forward to sharing our learnings and journey with our Koala loving community, so please stay tuned…
You can follow our the journey on Instagram here
Ember - Black Summer Survivor
A koala who survived the Black Summer bushfires in northern New South Wales has been spotted in the wild with a second joey born since the natural disaster.
Ember was found walking on the burnt ground in Whiporie in November 2019 after devastating fires swept through the area.
The 18-month-old koala was severely dehydrated and her fur was black, coated in soot and badly singed.
Her lungs were congested from smoke inhalation, and she had suffered significant burns to her rump and all four paws.
Despite an initially worrying prognosis, Ember's health improved and she made a full recovery under the care of the vet team at Friends of the Koala, supported by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).
She was released back into the wild in April 2020.
Watch the early post rescue video from Friends of the Koala here
Make a donation today so we can all continue to enjoy wild koalas.
A BIG WIN for koala habitat in Goonellabah, NSW
Friends of the Koala were delighted to report a recent win for koalas. Wins don’t happen very often, especially when it comes to urban development versus habitat. A win every now and then gives us hope and strength to continue our work to save the koala for future generations.
Friends of the Koala strongly opposed a planning permission application at 226 Invercauld Road in Goonellabah to create 203 new residential lots and a residual open space lot and associated roads, earthworks and essential services.
The site at Invercauld Road is one of the most notable koala habitats in Lismore and the Goonellabah subpopulation of koalas is already struggling due to a number of existing developments encroaching into the existing corridors. The development proposal for 226 Invercauld Road would have a significant adverse impact on the population.
Logging suspended in Newry NSW
A suspension of logging in one of the forests proposed to form part of the Great Koala NP has been extended until 5 September. The action was brought before the Land & Environment Court by Gumbaynggirr Elders on the grounds of concerns for Aboriginal cultural sites.
Mounting pressure on NSW government over Great Koala NP ‘breach of trust’
Tensions are escalating in state forests near Bellingen, where a protesters’ camp is locked in a standoff with a heavy police presence.
The New South Wales government has been accused of stalling on a promise to create a national park to protect koalas as tension mounts over logging in the state’s northern forests.
Rallies for forests Australia-wide
Rally for Forests protesters flooded the steps of the Victorian Parliament on August 12 to demand an end to logging in native forests. It was one of many protests around the country.
The Daniel Andrew's government announced in May that it would end native forest logging in Victoria. However, the Victorian Forest Alliance pointed out that areas in the western regions of Victoria will continue to be logged.
Snuff Puppets kept the crowd amused, pantomiming the death of koalas and species of native birds. While seemingly light hearted, it reminded protesters that logging and land clearing in native forests endangers wildlife and risks extinction.
