Koala
This table has 3 columns about scientific name, Queensland conservation status and local species status.
Scientific name |
Phascolarctos cinereus |
Queensland conservation status |
Endangered |
Commonwealth conservation status |
Endangered |
Local species status |
Priority species for conservation |
What does it look like?
The koala is one of Australia's largest tree-dwelling (arboreal) marsupials. It has thick, woolly light grey to brown fur that helps protect it from extreme temperatures and rain. It has a large head with round ears and a leathery, black nose. It has a muscular body, very strong forelimbs and soft, textured gripping pads with sharp long claws to help it grip and climb.
In South East Queensland, adult koalas grow up to around 70 centimetres in length. Female koalas weigh between 5 and 7 kilograms. Adult males are heavier than females, weighing up to 9 kilograms. Males have a broader face and more prominent nose, and a distinct scent gland on the chest. Females have a clean white chest and a backward facing pouch.
Where does it live?
The koala can be found across eastern Australia, from far north-eastern Queensland to the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia, extending inland to the Brigalow Belt and Mulga Lands of central Queensland as well as the tablelands and western slopes and plains of New South Wales.
On the Gold Coast, most koala habitat and populations are located west of the Pacific Motorway (M1), although there are populations in the urbanised suburbs of Coomera-Pimpama, Helensvale-Coombabah-Parkwood and Burleigh Ridge.
Ecology & habitat
Koala habitat is broadly defined as any forest, woodland or shrubland containing known koala food trees. Shade trees are also an important aspect that determines habitat suitability. Preferred food and shelter trees are abundant on fertile clay soils.
Koalas are mainly nocturnal and tend to be most active around dawn and dusk (crepuscular). They spend up to 5 hours per day feeding. The remaining time is spent resting to conserve energy, due to the low-energy content of its main diet of eucalyptus leaves.
Koalas live on a diet of leaves, mainly eucalyptus, which are high in fibre, low in protein and contain compounds that are unpalatable or toxic to most mammals. Koalas, along with greater gliders and common ringtail possums, are the only mammals that have evolved to eat this diet.
Preferred koala food trees on the Gold Coast include:
- forest red gum or Queensland blue gum (Eucalyptus tereticornis)
- tallowwood (E. microcorys)
- swamp mahogany (E. robusta)
- grey gums (E. propinqua and E. biturbinata).
In areas of adequate habitat, koalas establish and occupy individual 'home ranges' that often overlap. Peak koala breeding season in our region runs from July to January. Koalas will move around considerably more at this time, as juvenile males seek their own home range and breeding adults seek a mate.
Females generally start breeding from around 2 years of age and can produce a maximum of one young per year. A rate of one young every 2 years appears to be more common in the wild. At birth, koala joeys are blind, furless and about the size of a jellybean (2 to 3 centimetres). They spend the first 6 to 7 months in the safety of the mother's pouch and then ride on her back, continuing to suckle milk until around 12 months of age.
How is its survival threatened?
Our city's growing population and urban expansion present ever-increasing threats to koalas, including:
- Habitat loss and fragmentation from vegetation clearing, invasive weeds and bushfire
- Diseases such as koala retrovirus and chlamydia
- Vehicle strike and barriers to movement
- Predation or injury caused by domestic dogs and pest animals
For more details, our Koala Conservation Plan page
How can we help?
We work hard to conserve koalas across the Gold Coast and are implementing the city-wide Koala Conservation Plan. Our conservation goals include:
- Identify and retain priority koala habitat and restore degraded habitat
- Improve habitat connectivity and reduce and/or minimise future development impacts from fragmenting habitat or creating barriers to movement
- Reduce the impact of bushfires on koalas and develop an understanding of the effects of a changing fire regime on local koala populations
- Minimise and mitigate the impacts of diseases on koala populations and ensure best practice care is provided for sick and injured koalas
- Increase opportunities for koalas to move safely across roads
- Reduce the number of fatalities and injuries caused by dogs and increase community awareness of the risk posed by dogs
- Increase community involvement in koala conservation initiatives, especially in their own backyards
To find out what simple things you can do to help reduce threats and ensure the future of koalas on the Gold Coast, visit our Help save koalas page