Categories
Georges River OFF Activities Talks

July 2022 Meeting Koalas sightings Heathcote NP

Tom Kristensen spoke at the Oatley Flora and Fauna Conservation Society meeting on 25 July 2022 on looking for Koalas in Heathcote National Park During Covid lockdown.

Tom Kristensen spoke via ZOOM at the Oatley Flora and Fauna Conservation Society meeting on 25 July 2022 on looking for Koalas in Heathcote National Park During Covid lockdown. He replaced our scheduled speaker Ian coleman, from the Olive Pink Botanic Gardens, Alice Springs, who contracted COVID and could not present.

Citizen scientists Steven Anyon-Smith and Tom have photographed and named more than 100 previously undocumented koalas on the southern outskirts of Sydney at Heathcote National Park, across the road from the more famous Royal National Park. The discovery has raised the possibility there could be more koala colonies out there.

Tom explained how he and Steven commenced their search for koalas in 2020. They learned identification of koalas relied heavily on specific markings on their noses. They also documented a variety of eucalypts which the koalas used for food.  Tom’s great presentation was well received and is a timely introduction to the next OFF meeting when Georgia Crabbe-Wallace will present ‘film trailers’ documenting the many environmental issues faced by koalas.

Tom’s talk is now on YouTube

Leave a Reply