Koala lovers are being called on to help count the cuddly creatures as part of the 10th annual night-time koala surveys in Bongil Bongil National Park, south of Coffs Harbour.
Area Manager at National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), Glenn Storrie said the annual survey program, running since 2013, monitored koala presence and health in the national park.
“Community volunteers will be trained and equipped to conduct night-time surveys recording the presence of koalas and any other wildlife they might encounter,” Mr Storrie said.
“We are looking for any changes that may be occurring in the park’s koala population and make observations on their health and tree selection preferences,” he said.
“This is an engaging and fun wildlife survey program, with a hard science edge, that participants thoroughly enjoy and look forward to every year.”
Mr Storrie said the surveys were conducted just after sunset in the middle of the koala breeding season from late September to mid-October, “at a time when koalas are on the move, most vocal and most likely to be seen”.
He said the volunteer teams would walk the park’s trails using NPWS survey gear, such as spotlights and audio equipment, and would be supervised and managed by an experienced park ranger.
The Area Manager said Bongil Bongil National Park had recently recognised as an Asset of Intergenerational Significance for its koala habitat.
“Walking through the forest at night with a powerful spotlight can reveal a range of native animals not normally seen during the day,” Mr Storrie said
“In previous years, the teams have discovered a regionally significant population of the rare yellow-bellied glider, so koalas are not the only interesting native animals our volunteers encounter.”
Mr Storrie said this year’s surveys would begin on 26 September and run every four nights, for a total of five nights.
He said people could get more information about the program and participating by calling the NPWS Coffs Harbour Jetty office on 66520 907 or by e-mailing [email protected].
