Photo: Supplied.
RANGER STACEY THOMSON IS PRINCIPAL ADVISER – COMMUNITY EDUCATION (REDLAND CITY COUNCIL)
Koalas are looking for love, and they’re bellowing from the treetops!
Breeding season in south-east Queensland (September to December) is an exciting time for our bulbous-nosed marsupial friends. They are more active than usual, on the move, searching for mates.
At this time of year, expect the unexpected!…strange nocturnal sounds and koalas in unusual places such as street trees, parks, and suburban yards.
Male koalas are sexually mature at three to four years old. They are bigger than females and easily distinguished by a dark scent gland on their chest. The gland produces an oily, musky secretion that he rubs onto the trunks of trees. This informs other koalas that, “This is my territory!” The pheromone-filled fragrance is also an invitation to interested ladies of the species.
But it’s the loud bellows of eager males that capture everyone’s attention. Each fluffy fella has a distinctive call that announces his presence to other koalas and attracts females.
After mating, the female has a short gestation period of about 35 days. She gives birth to a jellybean-sized joey, underdeveloped, weighing less than a gram. The tiny newborn uses smell and touch to locate mum’s pouch, crawl inside, and attach to one of two teats. That warm, safe environment is home for about the next six months, the perfect place to develop and grow.
Every aspect of a koala’s life is wildly fascinating. A tree dweller with two opposable thumbs for gripping and climbing, adaptations to dine on and digest toxic eucalyptus leaves, individual nose patterns (like our fingerprints) that researchers can use for identification, and a hard bottom made of flexible cartilage for sitting in the forks of trees comfortably.
Breeding season is a significant time for koalas. For us, it’s a time to look out for them and do our best to keep them safe.
- Drive carefully, especially between dusk and dawn.
- Keep our dogs secure at night.
- Ensure our yards are wildlife-friendly.
If a koala or other native animal needs help, call Redlands 24-hour Wildlife Rescue Service on 3833 4031.
And finally, if you’re lucky enough to spot a koala looking for love, or simply minding its own business, report it through Koala Watch at redland.qld.gov.au/koalawatch
Until next time … Stay Wild!
Ranger Stacey
