Southern Highlands Koala Conservation Project. Joe Stammers Environmental Projects Officer Wingecarribee Shire Council

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1 Southern Highlands Koala Conservation Project Joe Stammers Environmental Projects Officer Wingecarribee Shire Council

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3 Wingecarribee Shire 2700 sq Km Population 47,000 High proportion of retirees & lifestyle properties Wingecarribee Shire superimposed over Sydney

4 60% remnant native veg 40% cleared 45% National Parks & WaterNSW catchment 43% Private Land 5% State Forest 5% Crown Land 1% Council Bushland

5 A biodiversity hotspot Unique climate & landscape High species diversity, approx 472 native fauna species 56 endangered native fauna species 128 endangered native flora species 9 endangered ecological communities Robertson Basalt Rainforest (pic by Ford Kristo)

6 What was the catalyst for the project? THIRLMERE WILTON Hall Road bushfire 2013 BALMORAL BARGO HUME HWY Burnt 15,657ha = approx 1/3 of Upper Nepean Conservation Area & Sydney Catchment Lands HILL TOP YERRINBOOL First recorded European sighting of a Koala

7 What was the catalyst for the project? THIRLMERE WILTON Sharp increase in koala sightings BALMORAL BARGO HUME HWY Enquiries revealed very little research on koalas in the Southern Highlands Pilot study in 2014 led to establishment of project. HILL TOP YERRINBOOL First recorded European sighting of a Koala

8 Southern Highlands Koala Conservation Project Goals To take our koala colony from being the least understood koala colony in NSW to being the best understood koala colony in NSW. To have a healthy, thriving, connected population of koalas in the Southern Highlands in 100 years time. First recorded sighting of a koala on Mt Gibraltar, Bowral Pic: Joe Stammers

9 Southern Highlands Koala Conservation Project Objectives 1. a map of key koala habitat and corridors, 2. an accurate assessment of koala population size and health, 3. a list of threats, including particular hazards such as road fatality black spots and potential ameliorative measures, 4. a list of local feed tree species, including those suitable for planting in rehabilitation projects, 5. a community that is engaged in koala conservation and corridor planning, 6. a plan of management for koalas in the Southern Highlands. Tourist Rd, East Kangaloon Pic: Daniel Zivko

10 Spotlight survey Total no. of spotlight sites = 697 Standard OEH spotlight survey method for arboreal mammals 2 hectare site 200m transect with 50m either side f(15 mins) Survey all veg types proportionally to their occurrence in the Shire (i.e. veg communities that cover a larger area will get proportionally more sites). Work out density of koalas in each vegetation type (e.g. 2 koalas in 100 sites = 1 koala per 100 hectares remembering that a site = 2ha). Extrapolate for each vegetation type across the shire to give approximate population size/or carrying capacity.

11 GPS Tracking Female 3 yrs (Charlie) Male 6 yrs (Delta)

12 Home Range = 6 ha Core Range = 2 ha

13 Home Range = 290 ha Core Range = 63 ha

14 Observed tree species Blue Stringybark (E. agglomerata) Monkey Gum (E. cypellocarpa) Thin-leaved Stringybark (E. eugenoides) Red Stringybark (E. macrorhyncha) Oblong-leaved Stringybark (E. oblonga) Grey Gum, (E. punctata) Hard-leaved Scribbly Gum (E. sclerophylla) Forest Red Gum (E. tereticornis) Cabbage Gum (E. amplifolia) Broad-leaved Peppermint (E. dives) Brown Barrel (E. fastigata) Brittle Gum (E. mannifera) Grey Ironbark (E. paniculata) White-topped Box (E. quadrangulata) Silvertop Ash (E. seiberi) Ribbon Gum (E. viminalis) Argyle Apple (E. cinerea) River Peppermint (E. elata) White Stringybark (E. globoidea) Messmate (E. obliqua) Sydney Peppermint (E. piperita) Small-leaved Peppermint (E. radiata) Gully Gum (E. smithii)

15 Preferred tree species E. punctata E. quadrangulata E. cypellocarpa E. oblonga E. globoidea E. mannifera E. seiberi E. radiata E. sclerophylla

16 Alpine/Yerrinbool shale-sandstone transition Day: E.punctata, E.oblonga, E.quadrangulata Night: no nocturnal tracking Canyonleigh sandstone soils / low rainfall Day: E.mannifera, E.sclerophylla Night: E.globoidea, E.mannifera East Kangaloon basalt soils / high rainfall Day: E.cypellocarpa Night: E.cypellocarpa. E.seiberi, E.radiata

17 Chlamydia Population Sex Prevalence of Chlamydia pecorum O U O and U O or U Total No. of koalas UNSCA Female 0 (0%) 3 (60%) 0 (0%) 3 (60%) 5 Male 0 (0%) 5 (71%) 0 (0%) 5 (71%) 7 Total 0 (0%) 8 (67%) 0 (0%) 8 (67%) 12 Canyonleigh Female 4 (80%) 3 (60%) 3 (60%) 4 (80%) 5 Male 3 (100%) 3 (100%) 3 (100%) 3 (100%) 3 Total 7 (88%) 6 (75%) 6 (75%) 7 (88%) 8 Ocular disease is common in Canyonleigh but not present in UNSCA. Uni of Sydney is currently looking at determining the strains of chlamydia in each population to see if that may explain the difference

18 Koala sightings

19 Koala sightings

20 Preliminary population estimate OEH announcement (March 2017) for the first time we have an accurate picture of the Southern Highland s koalas and can confirm it s the largest population in southern NSW with more than 3,000 of these iconic animals calling the area home.

21 Where to from here? New fine-scale vegetation map about to be released. New veg map will guide development of GreenWeb a map of important wildlife corridors and priority areas for biodiversity conservation. Looking at mitigating threats such as the Hume Hwy and other major roads. Project recently expanded into Wollondilly LGA with further funding from the Saving Our Species program for spotlight surveys, collaring, tracking & habitat assessments.

22 Thank you! Koala Health Hub Mark Krockenberger, Damien Higgins, David Phalen, Laura Schmertmann, Caroline Marschner, Andrea Casteriano Conservation Volunteers Australia Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife Local wildlife carers