Koalas are getting some attention right now from their friends. Friends of the Koala invite you to join the conversation and get involved.

If you are looking for something to do this weekend, there are plenty of suggestions here for something related to koalas.

Speaking with Angie Brace, the Regional Koala Officer at Friends of the Koala, about their series of events around “Koala Conversations” that goes until June 1st, she speaks of the importance of the Koala populations here in the Northern Rivers.

“We're trying to increase people's awareness about koalas in the Northern Rivers, we have a really important population for the state, which means for Australia. We have a nationally significant koala population.”

(Angie and Louise taking care of business at the Friends of the Koalas on Rifle Range Road.)

Here are some facts as to why koalas have such strong community engagement in this area:

• The Northern Rivers contains 4 out of the 19 populations across NSW that are identified as a priority for immediate investment under the Koala Strategy.
• Northern Rivers has also been identified as containing two of the ten stronghold koala populations in NSW. Koala Strongholds represent koala populations that are significant.
• The significance of the Northern Rivers koala population is the size of it - large.
• Councils in the area are heavily invested in koala conservation, with 5 councils having a Koala Plan of Management.

(Charlotte)

 “Koala Conversations are two weeks of events in the Northern Rivers to come together and thinking about what we are doing as a region,” says Angie, “There are a range of events appealing to the creative, adventurous and those wanting to know more about them and how to live alongside them.”

The events lead up to the Koala Forum on June 1st, where experts will discuss topics of interest, such as Koala habitat mapping, health, habitat and population monitoring and a regional approach to conservation. You are invited to buy tickets and attend.

In Lismore, on Tuesday, May 28th, you can learn about Koala food tree identification by joining the Koala food tree walk, botanical drawing event. Based at SCU, you will learn about drawing and Koala’s preferred food trees. For $8, morning tea is provided.

There are plenty of activities in the area, tree planting, creative pursuits, seed collecting, and a koala spotting activity on the Bentley Rail Trail on May 30th called Koalas in Motion. 

For the full program, go to the Koala Conversations website.

There are other ways to help our Koala populations:

• List the Koala Hotline listed in your phone, so if you find a sick koala or hit one on the road, help can be accessed ASAP. That number is:

• Have a look at the Koala Conservation Strategy. Form an opinion and discuss the pros and cons of that with others.

• Learn about why Koala's in the Northern Rivers are special. Pass on that knowledge to anyone who shows an interest.

• Call the Friends of the Koala headquarters on Rifle Range Road and book a tour to visit their cute furry charges. (02) 6621 4664.

• Koala’s are coming into breeding season in July, so get to know where they are and keep an eye out for them as they will be moving around a lot more. If you suspect they are living in a leafy tree, but are hard to spot, look around for their scat.

(Koala scat are about half the size of an adults little finger.)

Enjoy a koala-loaded weekend!