Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS) is pleased to be partnering with Gold Coast City Council and Wildcare Australia to prepare a koala conservation plan for the Elanora-Currumbin Waters area. This project aims to increase community awareness of threats to koalas and improve prospects for koala survival in our local area.
We are working together to develop an innovative education program involving school visits, awareness campaigns and public information sessions. It is a community engagement program targeting students, families, teachers and community groups. Our Wildlife Hospital will play a key role in the koala conservation project by conducting detailed assessments and disease surveillance of koalas in the catchment, while our keeper staff will assist Council with koala and habitat surveys in the local area.
The education campaign will incorporate the following components:This program provides CWS with an excellent opportunity to work with local government to help ensure a brighter future for our local koala population. It aims to serve as a model for community engagement in other semi-urban Gold Coast areas and Australian coastal regions that are home to koala populations.
- outreach visits to schools
- school excursions to CWS
- secondary school debates
- secondary school action groups and champions
- school fundraising events
- community information days
Keepers with koala at Currumbin. Photo: Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.
Outreach visits
CWS Education Officers will visit schools in the local catchment area and deliver lessons to increase awareness of koala conservation. Students will be taught how to report koala sightings and how to help protect this iconic species. Information will be delivered by CWS, Gold Coast City Council and WildcareAustralia
Excursions
School students will visit CWS for an exclusive koala encounter. They will visit our Koala Enclosure, learn about koala ecology, care and conservation status as well as ways to reduce threats to koalas in the local area.
Debates
Local secondary schools will host a debating competition focused on koalas and habitat protection. Schools and families will be invited to attend debates at local schools and CWS.
Action groups and champions
Secondary schools will be invited to form action committees and students will be appointed as “Koala Champions” to raise awareness of and funds for koala conservation. The Koala Champions will be supported with materials, mentoring and advice.
Community information days
Community members will be invited to attend information days at CWS. They will receive discounted entry and an opportunity to learn from koala experts. Specifically, they will learn how to assist with treatment of sick or injured koalas.
Together with Gold Coast City Council and Wildcare, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is embarking on this community conservation strategy to improve the co-existence of koalas and humans in the southern Gold Coast. It is envisaged that this initiative will be a success and therefore can be implemented in other parts of the Gold Coast and ideally in all regions of Australia where koalas live in urban areas.