Koala Drinker Research Project

By: Michael Fox

Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve has no permanent water and no safe access to water or breeding opportunities in surrounding bushland.

The Koala Drinker research is providing vital baseline information on the potential of providing water for wildlife to maintain and strengthen populations of vulnerable Koala Phascolarctos cinereus and other species in isolated urban bushland habitats. The Koala Drinker Research Project is supported by Communities Environment Program and sponsored by Ross Vasta MP.

Combined with the excellent Koala fencing built by Department of Transport and Main Roads (Queensland) keeping Koalas from being killed on the Motorway water for wildlife drinkers will strengthen the Koala population in the Reserve.

We are also working with Cr Steve Huang on his concept for a wildlife bridge across Klumpp Road from the bottom of Fox Gully to the Hibiscus Sports Complex then Mimosa Creek.

One very clear result of our research is how water for wildlife is valued by a wide range of species, particularly with over 6,000 visits by birds in a 6 month period. Special visitors are three bird species not previously identified in the Reserve: Brown Goshawk Accipiter fasciatus, White-throated Honeyeater Melithreptus albogularis and Yellow-faced Honeyeater Lichenostomus chrysops.

Some of birds using the Koala Drinkers:

Other regular visitors to the water include Lace Monitors Varanus varius, Sugar Gliders Petaurus breviceps, Brush-tail Possums Trichosurus vulpecula, Koalas Phascolarctos cinereus, Long-tailed Rat (Research required to identify). The wildlife cameras also captured Wallabies and a European Red Fox Vulpes vulpes.

White Throated Honeyeater is one of the species added to Flora and Fauna of Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve:

Rowena McGregor Says:

January 24, 2021 at 6:55 am

Thank you for sharing – so heartening and exciting. Shared to facebook ❤

Mt Gravatt Environment Group Says:

January 24, 2021 at 11:33 am

Thanks Rowena. Yes it is exciting and hopefully game changing for our urban wildlife.
Michael Fox

Nic Briais Says:

January 25, 2021 at 7:12 pm

I was always curious about which species would be picked up on the trail cameras. My daughter is particularly excited about the Sugar Gliders…fantastic info!

Mt Gravatt Environment Group Says:

January 26, 2021 at 12:04 pm
Thank Nic … it is exciting to see what our wildlife cameras are adding to our knowledge of the wildlife in the Reserve.
Michael Fox