Community
15 October, 2023
Help needed to track koalas
RESIDENTS across the district are urged to become involved in tracking one of Australia’s most loved icons, the koala.
Tracey and Peter Wilson and their band of volunteers at Koroit’s Mosswood Wildlife will launch their very first interactive koala count map at The Pavilion on Sunday, October 15.
According to volunteers Bernie Lane and Cathy Finn, the interactive map will provide vital information on the whereabouts of koalas, their habitat, their condition and other details.
“The interactive map gives residents the opportunity to report any koala sightings as they occur,” Bernie said.
“We want to further highlight the plight of our local koalas and what they are now up against. “They need and have every right to live here and we’re hoping more people will get on board and, together, work to ensure the koalas have a safe and ongoing existence.”
The simple-to-use map will allow people to easily record where they saw the koala, what state it was in and what its movements area. They can also add additional information they believe may be of relevance.
"As local koala vegetation becomes less and less they tend to move about more in search of food and a new home; by encouraging as many people as possible to use the map we have a better chance of tracking koala movement,” Bernie said.
Mosswood Wildlife owner Tracey Wilson is committed to ensuring the future of the koala and, in particular, its habitat in and around Warrnambool.
“We’ve seen their habitat diminish immensely in recent years, particularly as developers move in – so very little thought or consideration is given to wildlife in the area,” Tracey said.
“Warrnambool is developing at a rapid rate but we really need to pay more attention to the habitat around us.
“It seems the city is very anti tall trees because they don’t often get planted and those that have been there are removed for developments. Our local koala populations are disappearing and that’s a huge cobncern.”
Tracey and husband Peter began Mosswood around 17 years ago and in 2019 it became an incorporated association.
Their work to not only save the koala population but other threatened and injured wildlife is something to be admired. They work long, voluntary hours tending to the needs of animals, building enclosures and shelters, and working with a team of dedicated volunteers.
One of those volunteers, who recently joined the team, is French-born Jenny Galliard who is currently on a 12 month visit to Australia.
Travelling solo, 34-year-old Jenny arrived in the country early August and was quick to discover Mosswood on line was searching for voluntary groups that involved animals.
“I’m a huge horse lover but I love all animals so when I decided I wanted to come to Australia for my first time I really wanted to become involved in a voluntary organisation like this,” Jenny said.
Jenny now spends five days a week at Mosswood tending to the animals and doing any other chores needed each day.
“I absolutely love it here,” she said.
“I have worked in Equador and Bolivia and in various parts of the United States but this is my first visit to Australia and it’s certainly impressed me.
“Who wouldn’t love spending time with beautiful animals like the koala? At the moment we have six very small koalas inside and one in the outdoor enclosure.”
With the baby koalas requiring up to six hourly feeds, 24/7, Tracey and Jenny rotate shifts as much as possible.
“Yes it is quite a bit of work but I really love it; who wouldn’t? This is such important work to ensure the koala’s future in this country.”
he koala interactive map will go live at 10am on Sunday, October 15.
Simply scan the QR code on this page to access
