It has been a heartbreaking few weeks in the Northern Rivers, with five koalas hit on the Bruxner Highway in just the last seven days. Each of these losses is a stark reminder of how fragile our local koala population is. It also highlights the need for drivers to take extra care during breeding season and for driver education about wildlife on the roads.

We urge motorists and holiday-makers to take special care ahead of NSW spring school holidays which fall from Monday 26th September to Friday 7th October and includes Labour Day long weekend on Monday 6th October.

Koala Vehicle Strike Stats

Since January, thirty-two koalas have been struck on Northern Rivers roads, including five mothers with their joeys. Every incident not only takes the life of a precious individual but also threatens the survival of future generations.

Breeding Season: A Vital Time for Koalas

Breeding season is critical for the survival of koalas. From June through December, males and females travel greater distances in search of mates. This movement is essential to maintaining healthy, genetically diverse populations. Without this exchange, koalas risk inbreeding, which weakens populations and accelerates decline.

For an endangered species, every new joey matters. Each successful birth adds hope for the future, helping populations already devastated by habitat loss, disease, vehicle strikes, and dog attacks. In regions like the Northern Rivers, where numbers are low, every joey represents a vital opportunity to strengthen the next generation.

However, breeding season is also when we see the most koala fatalities. With limited trees and fragmented habitats, koalas must come to the ground, exposing themselves to roads, backyards and dog attacks. Many fatalities involve young dispersing males, as well as mothers with joeys, who are trying to avoid mating with nearby males. Read more about the recent study from Queensland University which found that the ten minutes per day that a koala spends on the ground is the most dangerous time for them here.

The Northern Rivers is home to one of Australia’s most important koala populations, and vehicle strikes remain one of the leading causes of injury and death for these animals.

What You Can Do

• Slow down in known koala zones, especially at dawn, dusk, and night when koalas are most active.
• Watch for wildlife crossing signs and be alert in areas where koalas are known to move.
• Spread the word – remind family and friends to drive mindfully in koala habitats.
• Report koala sightings to local wildlife groups to help track their movements.
• If you see a koala on or near the road call the Friends of the Koala 24 Hour hotline on 6622 1233.
• Read more about koalas and cars here.

A Shared Responsibility

Protecting koalas is not just about conservation – it’s about community. Every driver has the power to reduce the risks these animals face every day. We will continue sharing updates and resources throughout breeding season to raise awareness and support action on vehicle strikes. Thank you for standing with us to protect Northern Rivers koalas, we appreciate all that you do for us and for koalas.

Our Volunteers

We also wanted to highlight the difficult job of our volunteers and how koala fatalities affect them.

When a koala is struck or fatally injured, our volunteers are often the first on the scene. They lift lifeless animals from the roadside, check pouches for surviving joeys, and transport the animals with dignity and care. These moments are incredibly confronting and deeply emotional, especially when the koala is one they have rescued or cared for previously.

The grief doesn’t end at the scene. Volunteers carry the weight of knowing that each loss is not just an individual tragedy, but a blow to an already endangered population. For every adult female lost, an entire line of future joeys may never be born. In a small population, this is devastating.

Yet, despite the heartbreak, our volunteers continue their work. They answer calls at all hours, rush to aid injured animals, and educate the community about preventing these tragedies. Their strength and compassion are the backbone of koala conservation in our region – Friends of the Koala would not exist without our volunteers.

Koala fatalities take an enormous emotional toll, but they also strengthen our resolve. They remind us why this work matters – and why we must keep fighting to protect every single koala we can.

What else can you do?

As well as taking extra care whilst driving, please share our message on social media and if you can please support our work. Your donations and involvement help us:

• Rescue and treat injured or sick koalas, giving them a second chance.
• Provide critical habitat restoration, including planting trees and creating safe corridors for koalas to move freely.
• Educate the community on how to reduce risks like vehicle strikes and dog attacks.
• Monitor and track local populations, helping us understand and respond to threats in real time.
• Advocate for koala conservation, working with government and community partners to protect habitat and influence policy.
• Our new hospital expansion, ensuring we have the facilities and funding to care for more koalas in need.
• Vaccinate koalas against Chlamydia.

Every contribution, big or small, helps secure a future for koalas in the Northern Rivers and beyond. By supporting us, you’re helping protect one of Australia’s most iconic species – and ensuring that future generations can continue to see koalas in the wild.

Help us protect koalas and their homes. Support Friends of the Koala today and be part of their survival story!