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I find myself on the passenger seat of a koala rescue van at 8am on a Sunday morning – a typical Spring at Friends of the Koala (FOK). Two residents in the Northern Rivers, NSW have called FOK to report koalas in need of help. This type of call isn’t unusual at all, in fact since between July and August 2017, the centre has already rescued 77 koalas.
Located in Lismore, NSW Australia, Friends of the Koala have, for over 30 years, been leading the way in the rescue, rehabilitation and release of koalas. During the two weeks I spent volunteering there this Summer, I was lucky enough to take part in each of these stages. The centre was getting full when I left, please meet…
Lightning, my first-ever rescued koala! Stuck in a palm tree surrounded by dogs, we managed to bring him safely back to the centre for some check-ups.
Indy, a partially blind male as he suffered from a severe conjunctivitis, one of the symptoms of chlamydia. Thankfully, there is still hope to release him once his treatment finishes!
Elsie, a female transporting her joey in her pouch and who has just been released on this pic!
Before arriving to Australia, I did not know how endangered this iconic species was. Koalas are commonly injured in car accidents, attacks by dogs or even by cows. I realise that it all boils down to one major threat: the destruction of koalas’ habitat – and this isn’t a new threat but it really is the koala’s biggest threat. NSW recently loosened its land clearing laws and one consequence of that is that koalas now have to cross longer distances to find food trees. So, the FOK team not only provides hands-on conservation work, but is also actively campaigning to ensure a better protection of koalas and their habitat. A great example of that work is FOK’s ten-year campaign to try to divert Section 10 of the Pacific Highway in order to save the habitat of 200 koalas known as the Ballina 200.
What is so amazing is that FOK is solely run by a fantastic team of volunteers who engage in advocacy work with the local Council and educational outreach, along with fundraising so that they can provide day-to-day koala care. I was impressed by the incredible dedication and passion of all the volunteers, who donate their time and efforts to operate a “hotline” 24H and 7/7 for any emergency.
Moreover, I learnt at FOK that protecting koalas truly serves a larger purpose: the preservation of the Northern Rivers’ biodiversity as a whole since initiatives and actions that are undertaken to conserve the koala, including habitat protection and traffic management, often benefit other species. The very survival of koalas is today is at such a critical stage that the powerful words of Suzannah Keogh, FOK’s care centre coordinator, still resonate in me: “if Australia cannot save its koalas, how can we save any other species?”
If you feel that Australia should preserve its national icon, reach out to FOK to spend some time volunteering in this koala paradise, or simply by helping through fundraising!