Eyes in the sky in search for Eurobodalla Koalas

Eurobodalla Koala Project Drone purchase
The Eurobodalla Koala Project (EKP) recently managed to secure $10,000 funding from Fire to Flourish to purchase a drone to help support conservation and monitoring projects.
“The drone will assist EKP field work immensely as we will be able to follow up sighting in real time as we get information from landholders etc.” said Candace Wirth. “It is just one more step forward for EKP.”
“Forestry Corp has recently sent me their own song meter surveys of the areas we had identified earlier this year with our own song meter surveys. Song meters were lent to us by Dept of Environment & Heritage and also analysed with their software.”
“Forestry’s acoustic meter placement has confirmed our findings in the same areas, and even found more koalas than what we did – potentially leading one to believe that the koalas are not just ‘passing through’ but could indeed be a somewhat permanent group in a particular area” she added.
“The new drone is an exciting step forward in monitoring not only koala, but other critters.
It will help us to:
·Monitor habitats
·Spot invasive species and record
·Track the health of native bushland over time
·Observe local wildlife, including koala colonies identified in the Eurobodalla
·Share to the community through images , raising public awareness generally and working with schools and Landcare bodies
·Work with local aboriginal groups to learn, and to enable caring for country.”
EKP have had engagement with Cobowra LALC who are collaborating into the future. When they became aware of our koala sightings, they said they are very moved to see koala ‘back on country.’
EKP has moved into largely an advocacy and education role as we also continue to follow up koala hot spots with trail cams and liaising with land holders where we can, and just clambering about the bush basically.
Candace said “So all the above leads into the advocacy and education of the koala story in the Eurobodalla. The koala story from then to now little known to most in the area sadly, but certainly opens up a myriad of opportunities for tourism and indigenous ranger programs.”
EKP is looking for experienced drone pilots who can share their skills and mentor our volunteer pilots as they gain confidence and experience. If you have drone flying experience and would like to contribute to protecting our local environment, we would love to hear from you. (or similar).
All reports etc are on the website eurokoalas.com