Factsheets and FAQs
Factsheets
- Koala facts – Learn more about our furry friends (PDF 689 KB)
- Living with Koalas – How to improve you property for Koalas (PDF 2.3 MB)
- What's that scat? Koala scat identification (PDF 1.7 MB)
- Koala survival kit – Help protect wildlife in the heat (PDF 369 KB)
- Koala Frequently Asked Questions (PDF 3 MB)
FAQs
When Koalas are sick they will often come down to ground level or stay in low tree branches. They may have wet, brown dirty bottoms or crusty weeping red eyes, may be acting really lethargically or sitting on the ground. If you see an unwell or injured Koala please do not approach or touch, keep an eye on the animal and call the Port Stephens Koala Hospital (PSKH) 24hr Koala Rescue Number – 1800 PS KOALAS (1800 775 625).
For more information, view: Recognising a sick Koala and calling for rescue
Cars
Koala road strike is a major threat to Koalas with numerous Koalas killed by cars each year. Did you know that Port Stephens has one of the highest number of Koala road fatalities in NSW? When you’re on the road, please be aware that Koalas are more active between dusk and dawn, particularly during warmer months when Koalas are breeding. If you hit a Koala, call the Port Stephens Koala Hospital (PSKH) 24hr Koala Rescue Number – 1800 PS KOALAS (1800 775 625) - and report it straight away. There may be a joey in the mother’s pouch or in a nearby tree. Do not encourage a Koala that may have been hit by a vehicle to climb up and away from rescuers. Koalas can climb even with fractured bones. Secure it by covering it with a laundry basket, box, towel, jacket, or blanket, and hold it in a safe place until rescuers arrive.
Dogs
Dogs often attack Koalas and a dog bite can be fatal if the wound is not cleaned and antibiotics given to prevent infection. Koalas do not bleed profusely, so the wound may not be obvious. Keep your dog on a lead when you are in a park or the bush and keep them away from gum trees at night. Lock your dogs up at nighttime to reduce the risk of dogs attacking Koalas in your backyard. Dog trainers recommend putting Koala scat in the dogs bedding to normalise the scent of Koalas which may prevent dogs from wanting to chase or bark at them.
If you discover a sick or injured Koala, or are worried about a Koala’s health, get in touch with Port Stephens Koala Hospital (PSKH). PSKH volunteers are available to rescue and protect Koalas at all times of the day or night.
24hr Koala Rescue Number – 1800 PS KOALAS (1800 775 625)
Koalas feed almost exclusively on the leaves of Eucalyptus trees and a small handful of other species. In the Port Stephens LGA three tree species have been identified as preferred by Koalas for feeding. All native vegetation in our LGA, including that in backyards, plays an important role in providing connectivity and sheltering habitat for Koalas.
Preferred Koala Feed Trees:
- Forest Red Gum (Eucalyptus tereticornis)
- Parramatta Red Gum (Eucalyptus parramattensis subsp. decadens)
- Swamp Mahogany (Eucalyptus robusta)
More information about locally important Koala trees in Port Stephens can be found here
During the breeding season (August- February) and predominantly during the evening, Koalas can be heard bellowing calls looking to attract a mate. Both female and male Koalas can make bellowing calls, however Males are more commonly heard calling to attract a mate. Koalas produce deep bellowing or grunting calls by using a special sound-producing organ called a descended larynx (which holds the vocal cords). Play the video below to hear what a Koala sounds like.
Koala scat looks a lot like the pips of a large olive in terms of shape and size. Koala scat will have a strong smell of Eucalyptus, even when dry. Koalas produce these little pellets 24 hours a day, even when they’re asleep, and they produce a lot of them – a healthy koala produces 100-250 pellets a day. Be careful not confuse the scats of Koala with the similarly sized and shaped scats of the Brushtail Possum. Possum scats however typically are smaller and have a strong musky odor, which is not exhibited by Koala scat.
Photo credit: Anne Newsome
Photo credit: Paul Alessi
Koalas have very sharp claws with two opposable thumbs on their front feet, and one opposable thumb without a claw on their back feet. This allows them to get a better grip—essential for climbing trees. When climbing, Koalas leave behind characteristic scratches in the bark, which remain visible until the bark is shed each year, allowing you to gauge how frequently Koalas use that particular tree. Rough barked trees that have been regularly climbed by Koalas may also have the outer layer of weathered bark scratched away, exposing the fresh layer beneath. Koalas may leave distinctive scratches on the trees they climb. These scratches are more visible on smooth-barked trees and may look like two lines parallel at an angle above smaller random scratches or pock-like marks.
Image Source: Queensland Herbarium
Adult male Koalas are noticeably larger than adult female Koalas, with longer heads and distinctly larger black noses. Male Koalas also have a large scent gland on their chest which looks like a dark vertical mark down the middle of their upper chest which they rub against trees as they climb to mark their territory. Adult female Koalas have a relatively clean white chest and a backward facing pouch for their young. Their faces are a little flatter and their noses a little smaller.
Did you know the Koala is an umbrella species?
An umbrella or flagship species is a term used in conservation biology to describe a species that requires the same habitat or ecosystem as other species. The concept is based on the idea that by protecting and managing the habitat of an umbrella species, many other species that share the same habitat will also be indirectly protected.
By protecting and conserving the habitats of Koalas, many other species that inhabit the same ecosystems, such as other marsupials, birds, and reptiles, also benefit.