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Echidna Walkabout - Koala
Research
Echidna Walkabout has been observing Koala activities in
the Brisbane Ranges National Park
and the You Yangs since 1998. We have a Research Permit from
the Victorian Government Department of Sustainability and Environment
to work with the Koalas in the National Park. We visit the Koala sites
about 3 times a week and also regularly stay in the area for extended
research. Janine is also a registered Wildlife Carer.
Bushfires in the Brisbane Ranges National Park late in
January 2006 burnt much of the Koalas habitat and the bush is
still growing back. Many Koalas have moved around
and started to settle into old or new home ranges. We have
recently seen some Koalas again who have not been sighted since 2007.
During and following the bushfires in the area in
January 2006 we have also learned more about the Koalas 'up close'
while helping with rescue and rehabilitation.
Koalas in southern Australia are the same species as
their northern cousins but are larger and have thicker fur. They tend
to be more colourful than the northern koalas too - their fur can be
brown, red-brown, blue-grey, silver-grey, blonde or a mixture of many
colours!
Koalas are only found in eastern Australia - in isolated
pockets in Queensland, NSW, Victoria and South Australia. Recent
bushfires have had a huge impact on the Koala habitat in some of these
pockets.
See more information
about our special Koala Research project.
We become very fond of the koalas we see often and
would like to share some of the experiences and memories of our guests
and our research with you.
We are now adding Koala
photos and information online in the Echidna Walkabout Nature Tours
albums in Facebook as many of
our overseas clients like to keep up to date with the Koalas they may
have met on tour and like to send photos and make comments.
We
began by creating web pages for our Koala friends but this is harder to
keep up to date. Some koala friends have their
original
webpage and also feature on Facebook too.
 Buck
on Facebook. He was first seen
early in 2007 when he would have been about 3 years old - a time when
he needs to impress the ladies and maintain a good home range.
He is a very handsome blond Koala! He likes to sleep a lot -
probably to make sure he has the vitality when needed.
Vegemite Vegemite is
regularly seen by us since first sighting on 18 February 2006.
He was born around 2000 and seems
to be the dominant male in his area but a new male
is pushing in and may be trying to take over.
Mary is a very special friend of ours .... she already
had her own web
page as well as her Mary Facebook photos and updates
... she is usually around to check us out too.
She often becomes our photographic star.
She was born around 2000
and is now quite an older lady with the grace that goes with that.
She has remained around the same home range since
she was first seen on 27/5/2006 until 2009
.On ....
August 2009 she was found on the ground and thirsty which is unusual
particularly in cooler weather. She accepted being 'rescued', by Janine
whose voice she would know well, and was taken into care for checking -
although she was very keen to bite the Vet. After a long
life of eating only gum leaves she took well to the koala formula and
enjoyed her 'milk shakes'.
Smoky also
has both a webpage
and Facebook Smoky. She was first
seen when
she about 5 to 7 years old with dependent joey Pat in January
2006. She has not raised
another joey since but looks to be in good
condition and seems to be occupying same large home range area in
2008/09. Smoky is now a grandmother as Pat
has grown up and become a mum herself.
Maya is a duel profile friend as well - original webpage and
now Maya featuring on
Facebook as well.
Pat
was born in 2005 and was first seen in January
2006 as dependent joey on mother’s (Smoky) back.
She has her own webpage
and is now on Facebook too with her most recent
photos and news. Pat had her own joey in 2008.
 Merle is
our star on our new home page! He was first seen by
us on 26 February
2006 when he was about 4 - 6 years old. He is seen often on tour and seems
to be dominant male in a valuable area of the You Yangs.
Dennis has not been seen for some time although he was in
good condition when last seen January 2008 - may havbe moved
to another area and he hope to see him again. He was born
around 2000.
The Koala friends below have a webpage linked to their
image here.
ARis born
early 2006 1st seen as dependent joey on
mother’s back. Still occupying same area in 08/09, just larger
Emma - born
about 2002 - 2004 Not
often seen, but still seems to be occupying same area
Karen
born around 2000 and seen often since 7/5/2006 Seems to be occupying roughly same
area in 08/09
Bella was first seen in October 2006 and is not seen often but may have
been her seen with a joey in late 2008.
Cloud around 3 - 5 years old when first seen on 30/12/2006 and she
seems to be still occuping same area in 2009.
Emily was an older lady possibly born around 2000 or before
and was last seen on 30 March 2008.
Felicia was seldom seen from early 2007 to 2009 but more often in
latter part. Possibly born around 2000.
Zelda
seen for about year but very old lady - may have been more
than 14 years of age.Found deceased 25/6/09.
In poor condition when last seen.
Seen drinking from dam on 2 occasions, in 08
& 09. OSTEOMYELITIS large
area in right upper jaw above P4 & M1
Coal* very old boy - seen often for two years
from 7 Dec 2006 when he was about 14 years old. for
Found deceased 15/11/08.
Tooth wear shows P4 missing both sides, left M1
missing, right M1 worn to half, M2
flat, M3 nearly flat so age 15+ maybe more. OSTEOMYELITIS around top
left incisor, but death may have been simply due to lack of teeth.
Calvin 12+ in 2007
very large home range. seen often for 18 months from jan
06.in poor condition last time seen. Sightings
abruptly ceased. Presumed deceased around June 07.
Skull of old male found in nearby area on 27/2/09
– OSTEOMYELITIS in right P4 & left M1. Right M1 flat
dennis born 2000 seen nearly two years Might have moved out of area, or
died, but was in good condition when last seen
Tim Tam
born around 1998/1999 seen often for 2 half year. last seen
in wild 1 jan 09. in care 14 jan 09In care 10/1 – 14/1:
weight: 9kg, BGL: 6.8 Urine: Pr high, K + (slight) +, SEVERE TOOTH
ABSCESS upper right M2 or M3, non-healing PUNCTURE WOUND to nose,
broken teeth. Euthanased 14/1/09.
From skull OSTEOMYELITIS in 3 areas – right upper
incisor, right upper M1 & M2, right lower M3
... and our more well known friends - a few of
whom we see often, others we only see occasionally and some who we have
not seen since the 2006 bushfires but still hope to see again.
Firstly - our three very special friends! Bear who was burnt, spent 6
weeks in care and settled back in his home range. Ingrid and Jamie
escaped the fire by climbing to the top of very high trees which did
not totally burn - and were monitored as they remained in the burnt
bush.
Koala research has heartbreaking moments as well as the highlights. It
is believed that Koalas can live for about 8 - 10 years in the wild. We
have been involved with these Koalas since 1998 so some have grown old
and died and others have succumbed to drought and the 2006 bushfires.
It is never easy to say goodbye to old friends who have shared their
lives with so many people from all over the world and never taken
anything in return. But then the next baby is born and a new cycle
begins. We are keen to learn as much as possible so here are some
friends who have taught us a lot.
Raini - 24/1/06 when about 8 - 10 years oldIn care 25/2 – 28/2. Weight: 5kg
BGL: 7.1 Blood test: Ca very high, BUN extremely high, RBC slightly
high. RENAL FAILURE. Treated with
IV fluids but she died in care late 28/2/08
Eureka another older lady probably born around
1997-1999. She
was first seen on 24 January 2006 in the You Yangs and often seen up
until July 2008. She
may have died in September 2008 as she was in poor condition when last
seen.
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