Photo: Supplied.
BY RANGER STACEY THOMSON, PRINCIPAL ADVISER – COMMUNITY EDUCATION (REDLAND CITY COUNCIL)
What are the nocturnal native sounds that stir you from your slumber? Possums dancing on rooftops, flying foxes feasting in treetops, or the repetitive frog calls that signal the arrival of rain.
At this time of year, there’s another distinctive sound creeping into the night-time symphony of nature…the deep, loud, guttural bellow of koalas! Yes, it’s breeding season and sexually mature male koalas are calling for interested females.
The south-east Queensland season begins in late winter and extends into the warm steamy nights of summer. The strong desire to pass on genes to the next generation means a lot more movement and activity across the landscape as our most famous marsupials search for “the one”.
Redland City Council’s koala conservation team, in collaboration with University of the Sunshine Coast and Detection Dogs for Conservation, continues to research and monitor koala populations across the region. The aim is to gain a greater understanding of biology, behaviour, movement, health, threats and population dynamics.
Ambassador koalas such as Dakota, Bell, Bubbles, Calypso, Fluffnut and Cayden are tracked regularly and given preventative health checks. Local community members are encouraged to become citizen scientists and contribute to koala conservation by reporting sightings via the Redland City Council website.
With the 2024 breeding season underway, there’s a quiet optimism among the research team that Kokomo, who calls Geoff Skinner Wetlands home, may be expecting. Her joey Bandit from last season has dispersed, with observations indicating that Kokomo may have “joey belly”. Only time will tell if her fluffy pouch grows and a furry little face peeks out in the next few months.
Breeding season is an exciting time, not just for koalas but for those of us who love this iconic but endangered species. We can all help to make life safer for koalas as they move about in search of a mate. Drive carefully, secure pets especially at night, provide fence and pool escapes and, for koalas that need help, call Redlands 24-hour Wildlife Rescue Service on 3833 4031.
And remember, if you hear deep rumbling grunts in the dead of night, don’t worry, it’s probably just a koala looking for love.
Until next time … Stay Wild!
Ranger Stacey
