Latest news with #BangalowKoalas
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Fisherman's unusual find highlights 'sad' crisis unfolding for iconic Aussie species
A fisherman's unusual find while trekking to his favourite spot early one morning last week has highlighted the 'sad' crisis plaguing one of Australia's most iconic species in one part of the country. The man was climbing on rocks near the shoreline of Wategos Beach in Byron Bay around 6am on Friday when he was suddenly greeted by a pensive three-year-old male koala staring out to sea. Fearing for its health and safety, the fisher called local rescuers for help. Richard Nicholas, from Friends of the Koala, and Mark Badgery with WIRES quickly arrived at the scene to asses and wrangle the marsupial, which was wet, cold and underweight. It's understood misadventure had left the koala stranded on the rocks for some time. 'We have been told by other fishermen in the area that he had been in the ocean and swallowed some sea water, which isn't good for them,' Richard told ABC North Coast, adding the koala 'didn't put up a struggle' and seemed 'relieved' that the rescuers were coming to his aid. An assessment of the young male, now nicknamed Little Watego, revealed he had signs of seawater ingestion and trauma to his sternum, Friends of the Koalas posted online. The animal is now recovering at Northern Rivers Koala Hospital in Lismore. Byron coastal koalas are under an 'enormous amount of stress' The incident, which has been described as 'another reminder of the unpredictable nature of wildlife rescue', is also symbolic of the 'enormous' crisis koalas are facing in northern NSW, Linda Sparrow, president of Bangalow Koalas, told Yahoo News. 'The fact that you have a young, three-year-old male koala sitting on the rocks at Wategos Beach looking for somewhere to go just shows you how much stress Byron's koala population is under,' she said, placing the blame on overdevelopment, habitat loss, dog attacks and car strikes. With not enough trees to support the local population, koalas are getting themselves into danger and crossing busy roads in search of a new home, Linda added, noting that the young male may have been booted from his turf after mating season began at the start of the month. 'If we don't do something about it sooner rather than later we're going to lose the koalas along the coastal strip in Byron Bay.' Sadly, koalas are listed as endangered in Queensland, NSW and the ACT. Since European colonisation, their habitat has been devastated, with approximately 29 million hectares (54 per cent) of forests and woodlands destroyed in NSW alone. Combined with road trauma, their numbers continue to dwindle. The Northern Rivers region has borne the brunt of this destruction, but thanks to passionate conservationists like Linda, hope is sprouting. The president of Bangalow Koalas is leading efforts to reverse the damage and — in collaboration with local volunteers and organisations like WWF — has spearheaded the replanting of more than 459,000 trees across more than 100 properties in the region, creating a critical lifeline for koalas. Speaking to Yahoo, Linda said her ultimate goal is to establish a 'koala wildlife corridor' — an interconnected network of habitats where koalas can roam freely and safely, far from the threat of humans. She's on a mission to plant a total of 500,000 trees by the end of this year. Anybody who wishes to donate to the efforts can do so here. People are more than welcome to join the efforts on the ground, too, Linda said, encouraging landowners to contact the nonprofit if they're interested in participating. Incredible two year change on Aussie property amid critical fight for species Sad find on tree stump prompts urgent plea to Aussies: 'Will take years' Drivers warned after 'heartbreaking' find next to road at Aussie tourist town Council warns drivers as koala mating season gets underway The Byron Shire Council recently issued a warning to drivers to be careful on the roads as the marsupials venture out to find a mate. New and temporary electronic message boards urging motorists to keep a lookout for koalas have been installed on Hinterland Way, just outside Bangalow, which is a hotspot for activity, the council announced at the start of the month. They were funded by a $65,000 grant from the NSW Government. 'Between 2019 and 2025, 18 koalas died on the Hinterland Way, just outside Bangalow, so we are hoping the temporary lights will give drivers more of a chance to see them and avoid them,' Liz Caddick, the council's biodiversity team leader, said. 'We are very grateful to the NSW Government for providing funding for the lights and message boards.' Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Drivers warned after 'heartbreaking' find next to road at Aussie tourist town
Australians are once again being urged to slow down when driving through known koala habitats, after a previously rescued five-year-old female was struck and killed along a notorious stretch of road on the east coast. Wildlife advocates say the animal is the second to be killed in Bangalow, just outside Byron Bay in the New South Wales Northern Rivers region, in recent times. The death is particularly concerning to rescuers, with the area down to just a couple hundred individuals, according to recent estimates. Since European colonisation, koala habitat in Australia has been devastated, with approximately 29 million hectares (54 per cent) of forests and woodlands destroyed in NSW alone. Even in recent years, deforestation has continued at an alarming pace. In 2020, 53,800 hectares of vital koala habitat were lost to logging and development, with the animals' population taking a further hit during the 2019-2020 bushfires, in which up to 19 million hectares were burnt. A WWF-Australia assessment estimated approximately 8,400 koalas died on the NSW mid-north coast alone, representing up to 30 per cent of that region's koala population. Combined with road trauma, their numbers continue to dwindle. On Wednesday, conservationist Linda Sparrow, of Bangalow Koalas, urged drivers to take the simple step of slowing down as she shared "distressing images" of the latest fatality. "We lost another female koala this morning on Bangalow Road, just down from Old Bangalow Road, Byron Bay," she said. "There are roadworks up at the intersection of Old Bangalow Road with a 40km speed limit. Please stop speeding along this stretch; this is the second female koala killed along this stretch in recent times. Linda branded the latest fatality "heartbreaking for rescuers, heartbreaking for Byron Shire koalas" who she said "are up against the odds". "It appears both times the koalas have come under the barrier along the road and hit straight away. This koala was rescued from a swimming pool near Arkawal National Park three years ago," she added. Speaking to Yahoo News, Linda has argued the "world is watching" when it comes to koala conservation, and implored governments and the public to rise to the challenge and take action. "I can't imagine a world where there are no koalas. We have to step up and we have to protect them, because by protecting koalas, we're actually helping all of us," she said recently. It comes amid continual warnings that koalas are facing extinction in NSW by 2050. Linda is currently embarking on a bold mission to repopulate the area with trees, in a bid to create a "koala corridor" — an interconnected network of habitat where koalas can roam freely and safely, far from the threat of humans. In May, she hit the incredible milestone of 450,000 trees planted. Spanning 161 plantings across 121 properties in seven local shires, the community-driven initiative has become one of the region's most impactful conservation efforts. With just thousands of trees remaining to hit the half-a-million mark by the end of the year, Bangalow Koalas is calling on individuals, communities, and corporate sponsors to "help us cross the finish line". Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
Canberra Times
06-05-2025
- Canberra Times
This Byron Hinterland escape redefines what luxury really looks like
Amaroo Bangalow crowns 86 hectares, five minutes' drive from Bangalow and 10 minutes from Byron Bay's beaches. The work that has been poured into it is obvious in its manicured lawns and thriving rainforest gardens. Mike estimates they have planted 45,000 trees in the past five years, including two important koala corridors in partnership with Bangalow Koalas. "Amaroo" is a Nyoongar word meaning "beautiful place" and here views stretch to the coast and spill down to a neighbouring macadamia farm and the pocket-sized township. Two oversized swings are positioned to soak up the view and guests can wander to the dam to spot platypus, or picnic by one of the creeks. Designed with groups and multi-gen travel in mind, there are three architecturally designed cabins, a loft-style unit and a communal dining/lounge pavilion. Amazingly, couples booking a single cabin are still guaranteed exclusive use.
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Incredible two year change on Aussie property amid critical fight: 'The world is watching'
Koalas are facing a crisis in Australia. Since European colonisation, their habitat has been devastated, with approximately 29 million hectares (54 per cent) of forests and woodlands destroyed in NSW alone. Even in recent years, deforestation has continued at an alarming pace. In 2020, 53,800 hectares of vital koala habitat were lost to logging and development. With the Northern Rivers region bearing the brunt of this destruction, the future of Australia's arguably most iconic animal seems uncertain. Yet amid this bleak reality, hope is sprouting — thanks to passionate conservationists like Linda Sparrow. As president of Bangalow Koalas, Sparrow is leading efforts to reverse the damage. In collaboration with local volunteers and organisations like WWF, she has spearheaded the replanting of 413,000 trees across 115 properties in the region (through 155 plantings), creating a critical lifeline for koalas. Speaking to Yahoo News, Sparrow said her ultimate goal is to establish a "koala wildlife corridor" — an interconnected network of habitats where koalas can roam freely and safely, far from the threat of humans. And Sparrow is well on her way to achieving the lofty goal. "The world us watching us," she told Yahoo News Australia. "I can't imagine a world where there's no koalas. We have to step up and we have to protect them, because by protecting koalas — we're actually helping all of us." Koalas are a vital part of the Australian ecosystem. They help maintain the health of eucalyptus forests by feeding on specific trees, promoting natural forest regeneration. By protecting koalas and their habitats, we are also ensuring that these ecosystems thrive, supporting other species and maintaining a balance in the food chain. Incredibly 'rare' discovery in Aussie bush by sniffer dog Plea to Aussie drivers after tiny find on country road Travelling influencers delete video of 'abhorrent' koala trick after backlash Koala habitats, like the forests and woodlands they live in, play a key role in carbon storage. By protecting these forests, we're helping mitigate climate change by maintaining natural carbon sinks, which absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Healthy forests help regulate temperatures, improve air quality, and reduce the risk of extreme weather events. Sparrow lives in Bangalow and it's where a lot of her work is focussed. But just north across the Queensland border, she's recently seen enormous success in just a couple of years. Sharing incredible pictures, she explained what was once a bare, steep paddock in the middle of a macadamia plantation now flourishes as genuine koala habitat, after 1,600 trees were planted in 2020. "There were three different koalas using those trees (when the area was last monitored) — they're definitely using the trees. There's scratches, there's scat, broken branches, there's all sorts of evidence," she said. "And those trees aren't even two years old, but the more you put in the ground, the more chance koalas have got. We can't keep up with the rate of logging going on in state forests and all the trees that are indiscriminately being cut down. "Because you can rescue and rehabilitate koalas all you like, but if there's no habitat for them, then there's no hope." Sparrow now hopes to plant another 500,000 trees by the end of 2025 – and it's not only koalas that stand to benefit. "We're planting for a whole host of other native species. There's many, so many, animals and birds and insects that benefit from what we're doing." Sparrow's work is made possible thanks to collaborations with WWF-Australia Koalas Forever, with trees funded by One Tree Planted as well as the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. Anybody who wishes to donate to the efforts can do so here. Sparrow added that people are more than welcome to join the efforts on the ground, too. By preserving koalas, Sparrow said, we're not just saving a single species — we're protecting entire ecosystems that support our climate, water resources, economy, and health. It's a win for the environment, wildlife, and us. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
