Drones take off for koala survey

Koala surveys are underway to help guide future conservation efforts on Moreton Bay’s parks and reserves.

City of Moreton Bay and University of the Sunshine Coast are using drones with thermal cameras flown in a ‘lawn mower’ pattern across specific areas to detect koalas.

Field staff and detection dogs then move in for ground surveys and to collect high quality scats for analysis and to assess koala demographics and health.

Surveys are being conducted in Murrumba Downs, Kallangur, Strathpine, Petrie, Lawnton, Whiteside and Joyner until June 11.

Mayor Peter Flannery said this expands on Council’s commitment to protect wildlife, including monitoring priority habitats in the South East Queensland Koala Conservation Strategy.

“We remain committed to maintaining 75 per cent of our City as rural and natural landscapes without urban development,” he said.

“We have been recognised for our nation-leading Green Infrastructure Network Delivery Program and initiatives like this help inform future projects that protect our native fauna.”

Surveys will be undertaken between 10pm and 5am (weather permitting) with results expected later this year.

Results will help future koala projects, such as vegetation and koala habitat assessments, weed control, infill planting, koala disease management, installing koala hatches, underpasses and exclusion fencing.