Koala Management Oct 2010

DSE

At the point of capturing the koala details are recorded on the label that is tied to the box the koala is carried in.
One of the aspects that fascinated us was the careful noting of the location of the capture. Note the GPS reading. In addition to that a numbered ribbon is tied to the tree as in some cases a GPS reading may not be enough if more than one is captured in the same vicinity.
All that is done to ensure the koala is returned to familiar territory.
We witnessed one “release “ and had to laugh when, after all that effort to ensure that the koala returns to its tree, it then runs off to another one.
As an aside, all the staff and volunteers continuously showed great professionalism and " soul " for the animals and we thank them for that.

A personal story by Kate McKinnon

I was fortunate enough to be able to be involved in the koala sterilisation program that was conducted on the Island during early May.
It was an extraordinary exercise, planned and executed with military . It involved teams of vets from Melbourne Zoo and Bairnsdale, Parks and DSE staff, along with Island wildlife carers and volunteers.
‘Catch and release teams’ brought the koalas to the Community Hall, having taken a GPS reading of the exact location where each koala was caught, and tying a ribbon to the tree it came from, so that it could be returned to exactly the same tree on release.
On arrival at the ‘field hospital’, the koalas were sedated and given a thorough health check. They were weighed, measured, and had their eyes and teeth examined. Then it was onto the operating tables, where the boys received a vasectomy and the girls had a contraceptive implant inserted under their skin between their shoulders.

Raymond Island koala population control April 2010

The Department of Sustainability (DSE) and Parks Victoria will be coordinating a fertility control program on the Raymond Island koalas in May.

DSE Biodiversity officer, Lucy Clausen said the high numbers counted in March show the koalas are a healthy growing population that has the potential once again to eat themselves out of house and home.

“Since the koalas were introduced to the island in 1953 their numbers have steadily grown, with a crash experienced in 2003 when they peaked at over 600,” she said.

“Over 350 koalas had to be moved off the island at once and a number were euthanized due to ill health.”

Movement of koalas off the island to the mainland is one way to reduce the pressure on the local environment. The second tool of management of this population is fertility control.

Translocations over the years have reduced koala numbers to a level that has allowed the island’s vegetation a chance to start its slow recovery from over-browsing experienced in the early 2000s.

“As the number is creeping up again so quickly, we need to look at a long-term picture by slowing down the breeding rate,” Ms Clausen said.

“A fertility control program also gives us an opportunity to conduct a thorough health check of those animals captured over the three days that the program will be undertaken.”

Experienced wildlife vets from Melbourne Zoo, DPI and a local clinic will be performing the procedures which are expected to take in about a third of the current population.

Number of koalas currently on Raymond Island is estimated to be more than 215.
This is higher than the existing food trees can support so a translocation has been planned for Spring 2009.
An eye disorder called ocular coloboma has recently been observed in the koalas from Raymond Island.
The impact of this disorder on koalas is unclear but it is thought to be transmitted genetically.
Koalas translocated to the mainland will be sterilised to ensure that the eye disorder does not become prevalent there.
Fertility control will also be used to maintain the resident koala population on Raymond Island at a sustainable level.

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Below are the final figures from the koala work conducted last week. The total captures was 112 and of this number 9 were recaptures from previous programs (research work etc).

The three females euthanised were of poor health resulting in 2 male back young requiring care at authorised shelters and the adult male that sustained an injury to a claw was also euthanised due to his age.

It was a fantastic effort by all involved and I'd like to thank you for your great professionalism in getting the job done with care and much enthusiasm!
Regards

Lucy Clausen
Biodiversity Officer - Wildlife Management
Department of Sustainability & Environment

Tuesday, 26 October 2010

media release by DSE

Health and family planning for Raymond Island koalas

Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) and Parks Victoria wildlife and biodiversity staff led another successful koala translocation and sterilisation program on Raymond Island last week.

Theywere assisted by veterinarians and vet nurses from Melbourne Zoo and Main Street Veterinary Clinic in Bairnsdale, the Raymond Island Community Association, Raymond Island Koala Shelter, students from Forestech and Landcare volunteers.

DSE Biodiversity Officer, Leona Waldegrave-Knight said this is part of an ongoing program to reach and maintain a healthy and sustainable population of koalas on the island.

“Over the three days of the program we captured a total of 148 koalas, most being released back on the island if they did not meet the criteria for relocation or were sterilised during the three days. All koalas are tagged and given a health check on age, state of teeth and eyes, weight and general condition,” she said.

“Those that were sterilised in this program (hormone implants for the females and vasectomies for the males), were released back on the island.”

“Any healthy koalas captured that had been sterilised in previous programs were translocated to the foothills north of Bairnsdale to relieve the growing pressure on food sources on the island.”

With so much help and expertise on hand, the program ran smoothly, with minimal stress for either the koalas or the operators.
“It’s been terrific to have assistance from so many people and we’d like to thank them all for being part of the program to make sure the koalas can live healthily and happily on Raymond Island,” Ms Waldegrave-Knight said.

A total of 33 koalas were translocated, leaving an estimated population on Raymond Island of between 250 and 280.

Based on other healthy populations and the amount of available vegetation, the capacity of Raymond Island should be no more than 50 to 80 koala

Photos from top to bottom :
DSE Biodiversity Officer, Leona Waldegrave-Knight and Melbourne University student, Josh Crouch check teeth
Melbourne Zoo vet nurse, Jenny Kingston prepares a koala for sterilisation

Shelley Robinson and Mary Dharmarajah, volunteers from the Raymond Island Koala Shelter, caring for a recovering koala
Rachel Dawkins | Regional Communications Adviser | Department of Sustainability and Environment T: 03 5147 0864 | M: 0407 821 153 | E: rachel.dawkins@dse.vic.gov.au
www.dse.vic.gov.au | www.youtube.com/DSEVictoria | Follow us on Twitter: @DSE_Vic

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Once again,with their usual devotion,the DSE descended on us to continue their management of our koala population . View some photos taken by Rose Nutall and as supplied by the DSE.
October 2010

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