PORT STEPHENS KOALASJuly Issue 2019

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

TWO PEAS IN A POD: Joanie & Maree are Climbing to New Heights Together Joanie and Maree, both blind female adult koalas, have lived in rehabilitation yards next to each other for several months and have become familiar with the other’s scent and vocalisations. Each got to know the boundaries of their own yard by using their excellent sense of smell and through feel. Joanie has always been a skilled climber, however despite having two large healthy gum trees in her yard, Maree never actually climbed them.

As a trial, the dividing gate separating their two yards was left open, giving the girls the opportunity to explore each other’s yard and us a chance to assess their compatibility. It was anticipated that it could take time for them to realise that they could visit each other’s yard. As with all wild koalas, we didn’t want to handle them or force them to move (stress). We wanted it to be their own choice.Well… we were pleasantly surprised to discover that on the very first night Maree sniffed her way into Joanie’s yard, climbed up a branch, made herself quite comfortable and settled in for a long munch on some leaf. Maree still had the

option to go back to her own yard but chose to stay in with Joanie and never left. The gate was left open for a few more nights and the cameras showed Joanie ventured into Maree’s yard, sniffed around, climbed a tree and then chose to return home. The gate was then closed. Don’t forget that koalas are solitary, it’s not normal for wild koalas to stay within close proximity to each other (unless it’s mating season or a mum with a joey). So it was a small risk that they wouldn’t tolerate one another.

We are thrilled to say that they are regularly seen co-eating from the same pot of leaf, they move around each other very gently and patiently, have slept next to each other and we are over the moon that a handful of days after moving in together, Maree began climbing trees like a normal koala… Yay! She followed Joanie’s scent up and down the trees and now has confidence in her own ability. To see these blind koalas climbing is amazing; living as they would in the wild but without the dangers that would make survival for a blind koala nearly impossible. You’d be forgiven for thinking they have full eyesight. A brilliant outcome for all involved.

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New Rescue Hotline 2Mambo Wetlands: Key Koala Habitat Preserved 22019 Membership Renewal 2Koala-in-care vs. Caring Volunteer 3Santuary Sneak Peak: Membership Open Day 3Live Rescue Map 3A Plantation Above Par 4In Memory: Jill Dean 4PSK Book Launch 4Isn’t She a Bea-ute? 4Sponsorship 5Contact & Rescue Info 6

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Above: Maree shimmies across a branch underneath Joanie.

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we have a new rescue line.

save it in your phone. share it with your friends and family. save a koala .

1 800 PS KOALAS 1800 775 625

KEY KOALA HABITAT PRESERVED WE ARE CELEBRATING the news that the NSW Government has bought back a six-hectare parcel of land containing vital koala habitat, that it sold off in 2016. The site on Port Stephens Drive at Salamander Bay will become part of the adjacent Mambo Wetlands.

Planning minister Rob Stokes and Minister for the Environment Matt Kean made the joint announcement on May 31st, describing it as a win for the people of Port Stephens.

Mr Kean said the purchase of the land will support the local koala population and endangered and threatened species such as the powerful owl, squirrel gliders, bats and migratory birds. Local conservation groups and Port Stephens MP Kate Washington have been campaigning for three years for the site to be returned to public ownership. It was sold to a developer for $250,000 after it was classified as surplus land.

Extract from ABSNews Facebook Page

MEMBERSHIP

MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL Please renew your PSK Membership for 2019 and continue

supporting our charitable organisation dedicated to protecting koalas.  Every little bit of support helps. Please go to

https://portstephenskoalas.com.au/members/ to renew and continue receiving this quarterly newsletter.

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koala-in-care

Time with PSK: 1 year, 11 months Originally from: Salamander Bay

What brought you to PSK? Disease. A ‘frequent flyer’, I’ve been in and out of care several times over the past several years. Finally in 2017, I was admitted for treatment of Cryptococcus (fungal infection) and Chlamydia. Unfortunately I’m non-releasable.

Favourite Leaf Species: Eucalyptus Robusta commonly known as Swamp Mahogany.

caring-volunteer

Time with PSK: 2 years, 5 months Originally from: Caringbah, Sydney & Nelson Bay

What brought you to PSK? I always wanted to work with animals and thought it would be a great opportunity to experience what it’s like working with koalas. Then I was hooked!

If you were a Eucalyptus tree, what kind would you be and why? Eucalyptus tereticornis because like the tereticornis tree with its steeply inclined branches I try to reach high and do the best that I can.

vs.GET TO KNOW THE PSK FAMILY

TOLLEY ALEX

SANCTUARY SNEAK

PEAK

On June 16th, PSK Members and volunteers were invited to take part in a site inspection and viewing of plans prior to the start of construction for Phase 1 of the new sanctuary at Treescapes. It was a great success with a mix of almost fifty volunteers and members in attendance. We are happy to report that three members in attendance decided to further increase their involvement in PSK and become volunteers!

LIVE RESCUE MAP

Map shows a summary of live koala rescues undertaken by PSK volunteers between January and June 2019 (Locations are approximate).

WILD KOALAS of PORT STEPHENS

BOOK LAUNCH

THURSDAY 4TH JULY5:30-7:30 PM

Boronia Room TOMAREE LIBRARY & COMMUNITY CENTRE

Copies will be on sale for $20.

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Many thanks to Meryl Swanson MP for her nomination of Port Stephens Koalas for a grant through the Stronger Communities Programme (SCP), administered by the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science on behalf of the Department of Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities.

The SCP’s intended outcomes are to improve local community participation and to contribute towards vibrant and viable communities. We were successful in our application and were awarded $15,000 in funding to use towards the purchase and fit-out of a new utility vehicle. We would also like to thank Port Stephens Toyota for their help and support in sourcing this fantastic new addition to our fleet.

ISN’T SHE A BEA-UTE?

On Friday 19th April 2019, Hunter Wildlife Rescue, NATF Inc lost one of its real life wildlife warriors. Jill Dean was a former president and life member of Hunter Wildlife Rescue. Jill was passionate about all animals but especially loved gliders and birds of prey. She was instrumental in establishing the educational building at the wetlands and was always keen to introduce children to her love of wildlife. Jill was a special person who gave more to this world than she ever took. Jill passed away peacefully surrounded by her family. She will be sadly missed by all who knew her. Soaring above now with her beloved eagles.

Extract above from the HWR facebook page.  

IN MEMORY: JILL DEAN

A PLANTATION ABOVE PAR On the 6th June both Ron Land and Paul Holmquest of PSK along with two site managers and two visitors from England, planted 100 Eucalyptus Robusta trees on an area of land at the Nelson Bay Golf Club. This is the first of many more plantings that PSK hope to undertake at the golf club. With each koala in permanent care requiring about 1,000 trees, we need increased opportunities to plant more trees. If you would like to get involved in helping to maintain the plantations or assist in planting koala food tree seedlings for the future, please volunteer via our website.

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Port Stephens Koalas would like to acknowledge the following Sponsors

Arteke Salon Collective Plant Concrete & Civil Kate Washington MP Hoselink Advanced Finance Solutions

Kountable Marquis Bathroom Products Nelson Bay Golf Club

PSC OEHSBR

TILLI

NBRE

HUNTSMRT

NEW

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ACT

SUN

DENT

NOA

REM

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KOALA IN DANGER RESCUE INFORMATION

SICK Koalas come to the ground or stay low in trees. They may have brown dirty bottoms or crusty

weepy eyes.

CARS are the biggest killer of koalas. Be aware at dusk and dawn, a popular time for their movements.

It's not a crime to hit a koala, but please report it by calling our rescue number. If it is safe to do so, move

the koala to the side of the road, there may be a live joey inside the mother's pouch. Joeys have been

saved by this action.

ATTACKS FROM DOGS are too common. Just one small bite can become infected and kill a koala.

Keep your dog on a lead in parks and restrained away from gum trees at night.

RESCUE NUMBER: 1 800 775 625. Store it in your phone. Call us if you are in any doubt of a

koala's well being. We are available 24/7.

SUITABLE ENVIRONMENT may be questionable. On or near busy roads. No apparent gum trees in the

vicinity. Vulnerable to other hazards such as dogs and swimming pools.

Ideally, restraining a koala should be done without handling, avoiding injury to yourself. You may end up with

scars if you try to handle koalas. A plastic laundry basket or a large towel or blanket can be used to place over

the koala to keep it calm, and if possible put it in a quiet place away from pets (dogs especially) and noisy

children or machinery.

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PO Box 60Anna Bay NSW 2316 AustraliaABN 27 614 265 833NPWS Licence MWL000100291

VISION STATEMENT - Port Stephens Koalas aims to provide the world best practice standards of care to sick, injured and orphaned koalas to give them the best opportunity to be returned to the wild, while supporting research and collaboration to preserve their habitat to ensure that future generations may continue to enjoy seeing wildlife in their natural setting.

Follow our koalas in care - Click the icon!

Are you in ANY doubt of a koala’s wellbeing? Please cal l us on 1 800 775 625 (PS KOALAS)

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