By Debra Mar
If you look up high in a tree, you may see a rainbow lori, a cockie, a kookaburra or a Maggie but if you are lucky, you might spot a phascolarctos cinereus wedged in a tree fork.
To you and me, that is a koala!
Not only are koalas a celebrated Australian icon we see in sanctuaries, zoos, or a cuddly toy, it is thrilling to actually see one in our backyard.
Yes, our cute native marsupial does call the Mornington Peninsula home and most live or visit backyards stretching from Tyabb, Somers, Balnarring Beach, Arthurs Seat and parts of Rosebud. Unfortunately, numbers are in decline.
As recent as February 2022, the conservation status of the koala has been recently changed from vulnerable to endangered in Queensland, ACT and NSW. Anecdotal evidence shows through recent bushfires, weather events and development, Victoria may also be in danger of losing koalas due to loss of habitat.
What communities are witnessing
With an increase of human population on the Peninsula, a block of land that once accommodated one dwelling, trees and vegetation are now being demolished to make way for a surge of multi-storey units and apartments in township and major activity centres.
The Green Wedge covers 70% of the Mornington Peninsula and is made up of privately owned land. Clearing of tree canopy and supporting vegetation is causing fragmentation of wildlife habitat and corridors and loss of old gum trees.
Awareness and Education
The whole family can be involved through awareness and education. Explore your own backyard, wander through local parks and reserves or join a conservation group.
Trees provide shade to play under, a home for birds to nest, hollows for parrots and sugar gliders and create healthy ecosystems.
Koala roadkill and vehicle strikes are all too common on the Peninsula particularly during the breeding season in spring and summer and at dawn, dusk and night. Dogs in backyards and tree removal are also factors that decrease numbers.
The message
We can start in our own backyards. Think twice before cutting down a tree. Observe behaviours and visitation of various wildlife and birds that depend on that tree for shelter, nesting or food. Every tree matters, even a single nature strip or paddock tree.
Plant โkoala foodโ trees such as Manna Gums, Narrow Peppermint leaf, a Swamp Gum and native shrubs as a natural food source.
Give your koala and wildlife a place to live and feel safe and secure in your backyard.
Fun koala facts
โธThe word koala derives from an Aboriginal word meaning โno drinkโ.
โธA baby koala is called a joey and rides on its mothers back up to 12 months
โธKoalas sleep 20 hours a day
โธThey are nocturnal
โธKoalas usually live between 10 โ 12 years in the wild
โธThey have particularly hard bottoms to sit in trees
โธKoalas have poor vision so rely on their hearing and smell
โธThey eat eucalyptus leaves that are poison to other animals
โธKoalas are habitual and return to the same tree. If the tree is cut down they become confused and stressed.
Eight year old Aidan loves trees and nature. He wrote this poem and read it to his Year 3 class.
THE LIFE OF A GUMTREE
By Aidan B
I donโt like bushes
I donโt like bees
But I love the fantastic Gumtrees
You jump around them
Beautiful koalas live in these Gumtrees
Bang, Crunch, terrible bushfires rule in Summer
Koala numbers go down
Animals go sad, bushfires all around
Animals with nowhere to go
Gumtree numbers go down
Care for gumtrees
Gumtrees are angry at the fires
Finally the bushfire season is over
Koalas go to their homes
But sadly itโs gone
I feel for them, they are homeless
Sad life for koalas
All animals no victory
All trees are gone
Animal Shelters care for the koalas
Local volunteer conservation groups who protect and preserve our environment and habitat are here to help.
One such group is the Mornington Peninsula Koala Conservation Landcare Group. Founder and President of the group, Dirk Jansen said, โMore than 70% of koala habitat is on private property so koalas need our help to retain and plant trees on our land.โ
For more information about this conservation group and how children and families can participate in a tree planting venture, visit mpkoalas.org.au
To love our koalas is to love our trees, our local native birdlife and nature. It all starts in our own backyards.
Debra Mar is a councillor for the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council and an advocate for conservation to ensure we have a sustainable future for native flora and fauna and emerging generations.