A new report by the University of Queensland has found the koala population of the Ipswich region is a significant population for the conservation of this species in Australia.

The report found that the Ipswich region is home to an estimated population of up to 4,368 koalas.

The report was launched with the support of Taz, the koala detection dog who was part of a community koala survey in the area late last year.

Taz is an English springer spaniel, who was specially-trained to detect koala scat that were later analysed by scientists to determine the age, gender, health and genetic diversity of koalas.

The authors of the report concluded that serious anthropogenic threats to the future of Ipswich’s koalas exist in the form of transport infrastructure and incompatible land uses.

In recent years, residential and industrial developments have increased and the associated infrastructure, including roads, has consumed significant areas within the natural woodland and agricultural landscape.

COAL MINING

The biggest threats to the koala population in the Ipswich LGA include, habitat loss, roads and rail, disease and dogs, climate change and fires.

Sadly, new and future coal mine projects include areas from which some of the highest koala densities have been reported.

You can download the report here