MOONLIT Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park and Western Port Biosphere have joined forces to launch a new project to save the region’s precious koala population. Named the Western Port Koala Corridor Project, the initiative aims to create a network of trees throughout the UNESCO listed Western Port Biosphere to allow koalas and other vulnerable species to move safely between areas of bushland. The project will also address the growing threats faced koalas as their numbers have rapidly dropped due to habitat destruction, disease, dog attacks, and road hazards.
To help support their populations, the project is seeking to engage dedicated community volunteers in a variety of activities. This included helping with tree planting, survey koala populations, create new habitats on private properties, and raise funds for the project. The survey will add to the important genetic research on koala populations conducted over the past year by the Biosphere Foundation’s Kelly Smith.
Western Port Biosphere CEO Mel Barker said the project was critical to supporting and preserving koala populations in the region. “Koalas are iconic to Australia, but they are in peril due to the ever-increasing fragmentation of their habitats. The Western Port Koala Corridor is our opportunity to reverse this trend by reconnecting habitats, giving koalas a fighting chance for survival,” she said.
Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park director and founder Michael Johnson also shared the importance of the project. “Moonlit Sanctuary is proud to play a key role in the Koala Corridor Project. By working together with the community and passionate volunteers, we can ensure a future where koalas can thrive in their natural habitat once again,” he said.
Learn more at: moonlitsanctuary.com.au/koala_corridor
First published in the Mornington News – 22 October 2024
