Heavy rains bring koala baby boom

Central Queensland's koala population is going through a baby boom after heavy rains boosted its food supply, researchers have found.

A recent survey in bushland near Clermont by scientists from the Koala Venture found almost half of all female koalas observed were carrying joeys.

Scientists say the survey means similar koala populations across Central Queensland could also receive a boost after drought had impacted on the marsupial's breeding and wellbeing.

The Koala Venture's Dr Sean FitzGibbon said the increase in local koala reproduction rates was in contrast to previous years when a lack of suitable food supply meant the number of young joeys and pregnant koalas dropped.

Koala Venture is an award-winning partnership between the University of Queensland and Rio Tinto Coal Australia, and is the country's longest running koala study.

"The drought has been having an impact on reproduction rates," Dr FitzGibbon said.

"What we're predicting and already seeing is an increase in reproduction rates as a result of good recent rain and the trees becoming more lush. Quite a few of the female koalas now have young.

"What we've found would likely be typical of other areas in Central Queensland that have experienced a wet summer."

Rio Tinto Coal Australia's General Manager, Health, Safety & Environment, Rory Gordon, said Koala Venture was important to the company's Central Queensland mining operations.

"The findings the researchers have made over the past decade have guided us in our work from land clearing through to rehabilitation," Mr Gordon said.

"We now have a better understanding of the impact on the koala population; we can reduce the likelihood of harm to koalas as we work and our increased knowledge of plant species will enable us to provide a richer habitat for these native animals after we finish our operations."

The research programme was expanded last year to include the new Clermont Mine lease, which is approximately 14 kilometres from Blair Athol Mine.

Mr Gordon said the new stage in the partnership was already bearing results.

"The researchers have fitted eight new koalas with radio collars to monitor their movement and wellbeing on the Clermont Mine lease . This has almost doubled to 18 the total number of koalas that are being monitored," Mr Gordon said.

"Works are progressing quickly on the new mine site and the radio collaring has provided an additional benefit by being able to locate the koalas ahead of land clearing.

"Koala Venture is about minimising the potential negative impacts to koalas during vegetation clearance.

"This highlights the importance of being able to collar resident koalas and track them on the day of planned clearing activities."
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