Sunday morning 4th December and John McCrystal and a friend were riding Shire Road to the summit of Mt Gravatt. John, a member of Team Fatboyz, was practicing for the Rio Tinto Ride to Conquer Cancer – August 18-19, 2012, he certainly didn’t expect to encounter two Koalas running down the road towards him!
“They came running down the mountain and then starting running toward us on the road. They then froze in front of us started snorting, I think they were scared. We had to shoo them off the road. They then climbed the first tree they found.” John
John grew up on the side of Mt Gravatt and he had never heard of Koalas on the Mountain. I have heard from others that there have “never been” Koalas on Mt Gravatt and any animals found must have been relocated there after recovery from injury. This has always seemed to be an unlikely explanation because injured animals, including Koalas, are returned to locations as close as possible to where they were found.
Koalas on Mt Gravatt – What is the answer?
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Professor Carla Catterall, Griffith School of Environment, advises that from the 1970s to the 1990s koalas were not seen in Toohey Forest, in spite of many naturalists walking in the forest and doing ecological surveys there. This has been a puzzle given that Koala food trees are present in reasonable numbers. Professor Catterall suggests that Koalas may have previously been in the forest then extirpated (local extinction) in the early 20th century.
Koala fur industry
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Hunting for Koala pelts was a major industry after European settlement. Who would want to wear Koala fur? The Koalas I have handled didn’t exactly feel luxurious and soft. Glenn Fowler’s 1993 report, “BLACK AUGUST” Queensland’s Open Season On Koalas in 1927 available at Australian Koala Foundation site, provides and insight into this unlikely trade.
‘Although (fortunately for the koala) not highly valued, the koala’s thick soft fur soon acquired the reputation as being a particularly effective insulator against the cold – ideal for protecting the human body from “the icy blasts of winter in Northern Canada and Europe”. Koala fur was renowned for its ability to withstand any amount of hard usage.’ Fowler, 1993.
For me, the really sobering thing was realising that as recently as 1927 the Queensland Government approved a six month open season on Koalas. More than 500,000 Koala pelts were delivered to market – a huge impact given the number of pelts that would have been unusable and the joeys left to starve.
Koalas returning to Mt Gravatt
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Nature is now giving us a second chance with Koalas now breeding successfully in the Reserve and increasing sightings particularly around our Fox Gully Bushcare site: Mimosa Creek Precinct.
Griffith University researchers believe that there is more functional linkage between Toohey Forest and other forest areas in the western past of Brisbane than might easily be assumed: in spite of the hazards of roads. We have one sighting of a Koala successfully crossing the Motorway onramp however the recent death of a Koala hit by a car on Klump Road highlights the need for safe wildlife corridors connecting Mt Gravatt Reserve with Mimosa Creek, Roly Chapman Reserve and Toohey Forest.
Cathyrn Dexter, Griffith University, is leading a project with Main Roads Department which aims to create permeable landscapes that will allow animals to move around without having to interact with roadways: safer for wildlife and drivers.
We will draw on Cathyrn’s research as we restore the Fox Gully wildlife corridor to improve the chance for Koalas to move safely across Klumpp Road. In the short term we are working with Cr Krista Adams to have Koala crossing signs erected on Klumpp Road. While the active police presence is likely to have much greater impact on speeding, Koala crossing signs will be a valuable community education tools building awareness that nature is returning a special animal to our urban bushland environment.
January 12, 2012 at 2:01 am
It was amazing to see two fat koalas on the road riding up Mt Gravatt. Made our day.
January 14, 2012 at 3:55 am
Yes, I understand … I am constantly amazed by the wildlife and wildflowers I find on the Mountain.
Michael Fox
April 12, 2012 at 9:36 pm
I live in Logan city and areas that have not reported many koala sightings in the last 10 years have people reporting koala sightings. We need to remember that we have had exceptional rainfalll in the last 2 years and prior to that we had a very long dry spell – conditions for plant growth and wildlife have been very good. This highlights why we need long term monitoring of fauna so we can better understand their needs . Great to hear about the recent koala sightings at Mt Gravatt – I went to school in the area.
April 15, 2012 at 12:37 am
Thanks for the comment Anne.
You are right about the impact of the dry spell although the first mother and joey sighing I have logged was on the northern face of the mountain in September 2009 which was at the end of that time.
I just read an excellent if heartbreaking article in Saturday’s QWeekend – Our Fading [Queensland] Emblem which focused particularly on the Pine Rivers area.
Michael Fox
October 21, 2012 at 5:38 pm
thanks for highlighting the koalas at Mt Gravatt. My son saw some at Holland Park. This is fantastic news. I never saw any in my childhood walking through the mountain bush often 4 decades ago. We need it to be better publicized so drivers can be aware to take care especially at nights. Sadly, cats, dogs and possums added to cars make these suburban koalas something to be protected as far as possible.
October 22, 2012 at 9:10 pm
Thanks for the comment Colleen. I always get a buzz when I see a Koala in the forest.
Michael
December 7, 2012 at 1:42 pm
Two female koalas, both with joeys spotted on the Nathan campus last week!
December 7, 2012 at 10:03 pm
Wonderful news Leah! Thank you for letting me know.
November 15, 2014 at 6:38 pm
I found a Koala in my back yard today. We took photo’s how amazing.
November 15, 2014 at 6:41 pm
I have never seen one here and I have lived here for 27 years, we live in the Mt.Gravatt area.
November 16, 2014 at 12:08 pm
This is exciting news Sally … thanks for letting us know.
May we have a copy of your photos and a location (address is fine and if you like we can locate the report in the street near your property).
We have been mapping Koala sightings in the area as well as reporting to Koala Tracker and Daisy Hill Koala Centre.
Michael Fox
megoutlook@gmail.com
December 22, 2017 at 5:28 pm
Koala seem near Psychology building Griffith University last week hear West Carpark Mt Gravatt
December 22, 2017 at 5:54 pm
Thanks Dianne … good spotting