* Redlands Koalas

In collaboration with researchers from Universities of Queensland and Sunshine Coast we were contracted by the City of Redlands Council to undertake a koala habitat and population assessment across the Redlands, including Stradbroke Island. Amongst other things and supported by independent genetic studies, our work has confirmed a widespread distribution of koalas on the mainland, albeit at very low densities. This is a disturbing outcome given data indicating a koala population that numbered in the thousands little more than 15 years ago. Reasons for this outcome are unclear but are contrary to normal paradigms of population decline, leading us to suspect another factor (disease management) to be the primary culprit. Our final report on this project was submitted in April, 2019.