User:Richard Nigel/sandbox

Friends of the Koala is an organisation working to save the Koala from extinction. Operating since 1986, Friends of the Koala has an established history of achieving positive outcomes for koalas in the New South Wales Northern Rivers, a region that is home to one of the last significant, genetically diverse koala populations. Their mission is to make a key contribution to Australia’s biodiversity by ensuring the conservation of the iconic koala and the preservation and enhancement of koala habitat, particularly in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales.

They have become the lead koala conservation group in Australia, and the only organisation in the world that focuses on all aspects of koala conservation. With over 550 members, 239 active volunteers and 7 staff members, they rescue, treat, rehabilitate and release koalas, protect and enhance habitat, initiate and execute koala health research projects, engage and educate the community and advocate on behalf of koalas at a local, state and national level.

Operating across local government areas of Ballina, Byron, Kyogle, Lismore, Richmond Valley and Tweed, they cover a 10,000+ sq km area and tend to hundreds of sick, injured and orphaned koalas each year, more than any other Koala Hospital in New South Wales, Queensland or Victoria. They founded and lead the Northern Rivers Koala Network, a cooperation between all Northern Rivers councils and koala conservation groups, and representatives from (inter)national NGO’s. Friends of the Koala is based in East Lismore. Here they operate the only dedicated Koala Hospital in the Northern Rivers, a Community Education Centre, seven koala food tree plantations, five community native plant nursery sites and soon they will open a state-of-the-art Research & Diagnostics Laboratory. They manage one of the largest single-species databases in the world, including sighting, rescue, rehabilitation and release records from 1989.

They are currently the only wildlife hospital in NSW licensed to vaccinate all koalas rehabilitated through their hospital against Chlamydia before release. Chlamydia is the number one cause of death for koalas in the Northern Rivers.

HABITAT RESTORATION Since records began in 1989, Friends of the Koala have grown and issued more than 812,000 native plants and trees to landholders and habitat restoration groups across the region. They also provide advice to landowners, community organisations and government on creating, protecting and restoring koala habitat.

They have produces a documentary called EVERY KOALA COUNTS, which is available to view free of charge. At the heart of the Australian documentary ‘Every Koala Counts’ are the koalas themselves. This documentary is an intimate exploration of the inspiring people who have taken a stand to save this species.

There is a great website: www.friendsofthekoala.org about their work which is updated regularly.

References:

Friends of the Koala is a registered charity listed on the Australian Charities and Not-For-Profit Commission website. https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity/charities/f5a4674b-38af-e811-a961-000d3ad24182/profile

News references: https://www.nbnnews.com.au/2023/10/24/friends-of-the-koala-sounds-the-alarm-as-summer-looms/ and the koala food nursery establishment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULKgiCRivSc

Landcare groups: https://www.brrvln.org.au/friends-of-the-koala

Koalas and extinction:

https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/biodiversity/threatened/species/koalas/listing-under-national-environmental-law#:~:text=The%20koala%20(combined%20populations%20of,have%20any%20impacts%20to%20koalas.

https://www.cnet.com/science/climate/features/a-world-without-koalas/