Adult koalas are very territorial, so are released back to their home range. If we are unable to return them to the exact tree from which they were rescued, we release them as close to that tree as possible.

You can make a difference by:

• Protecting koala habitat and planting koala food trees
• Driving carefully and reducing your speed in known koala hotspots
• Containing your dogs at night and leashing them while walking
• Contacting our 24hr Rescue Hotline when you see a koala that is sick or in distress
• Reporting koala sightings
• Adopting a Koala or donating to our cause
• Becoming a member of Friends of the Koala or volunteering with us
• Raising awareness of the threats which face koalas

Koalas can often go unnoticed when they are resting up high in a fork of a tree, but can be found if you look for and listen to the following signs:

• scratch marks on tree trunks
• scats on the ground
• calls and bellows

If you see a koala in the wild, be quiet, move slowly and stay at least 10m away from the tree. Make sure to report sightings to us so accurate records of activity and sightings can be maintained across our region. .

Koalas are widely distributed across the Northern Rivers region of NSW although their numbers vary depending on available habitat. There are regular sightings in all the local government areas of Ballina, Byron, Kyogle, Lismore, Richmond Valley and Tweed. Koalas are found in areas with extensive bushland however they also survive in urban areas although they are much more vulnerable there to threats such as vehicles, dogs and swimming pools.

The biggest threat koalas face is habitat loss. As their habitat becomes smaller and more fragmented, koalas are forced to travel on foot through urbanised and agricultural areas. Once on the ground they become vulnerable to vehicle strikes and dog attacks. These threats result in elevated stress levels which can cause outbreaks of infectious diseases such as koala retrovirus and chlamydia in koala populations.

Eucalyptus leaves are extremely low in nutrients. Koalas conserve the little energy they do receive from the leaf by sleeping for up to 20 hours a day. Koalas need to save their energy for moving between trees, digesting the food they eat, looking for mates in the breeding season, and escaping from predators.

Male koalas are generally larger than females and their testicles are sometimes visible. They have a longer, broader face and as adults are more muscular. At sexual maturity (2 -3 years) they develop a scent gland on their chest which looks like a dirty, vertical mark down the middle of their upper chest. They use this scent glad to claim their territory by rubbing it against the trunks of their trees.
Females are generally smaller, with fluffier ears. They have a rounder, softer face and are smaller in size.
Having said that, some females have broad faces and some males have lovely fluffy ears. There are always exceptions to the rule with koalas!

Koalas mostly eat eucalypt leaves, but will consume the flowers, buds, stems and bark of a eucalyptus tree. Koalas are fussy eaters and rely exclusively on one or two eucalypt species, which are their primary browse trees. This varies between regions and an individual’s range. They do browse opportunistically on other species of eucalypts as well as some non-eucalypts such as She Oaks and Paperbarks that are utilised for other behavioural purposes such as shade. Preferred koala food trees in the Northern Rivers are Forest Red Gum, Tallowwood and Swamp Mahogany.

Koalas are the size of a small jelly bean when born; their eyes are shut, ears stuck to their head and they have no fur. They take a precarious journey from the cloaca, crawling into their mother’s pouch and attaching themselves to one of their mother’s two teats. Koala joeys spend the first 6 months of their lives in their mother’s pouch, and during this time grow fur and open their eyes. From 7-12 months they spend their time on their mum’s tummy, back or close by, learning how to navigate the treetops and adjusting to a diet of eucalyptus leaves. The next few months are spent in the same vicinity as their mother as they become weaned and fully independent. Females often stay in the same area as their mothers, but young males usually disperse.

Koalas mate throughout the year, but the mating season peaks between November and January. Males become sexually active from 3 years of age. Females can breed from 2 years of age and generally give birth once a year for the next 10 to 15 years.

Koalas differ in size, colour and shape throughout their distribution range. Northern koalas have a short, thick, grey and white coat and are smaller than their southern counterparts. On average, northern male koalas weigh between 7- 8kg and females between 6-7kg.

The average lifespan for a wild koala is 10 to 12 years. However, the oldest wild koala recorded by Friends of the Koala was a female aged 19 years old.

Koalas are currently listed as ‘vulnerable’, however numbers are rapidly declining due to habitat destruction, disease, vehicle strikes and dog attacks. The Australian Government is currently considering upgrading their status to ‘endangered’ following the 2019/2020 summer bushfires.

Koalas have a fragmented distribution throughout eastern Australia from north-east Queensland to a small section of South Australia. Koalas are most abundant in northern New South Wales and in south-east corner of Queensland, where they compete for space with a rapidly growing human population.

Becoming a volunteer at Friends of the Koala is easy! Simply complete a Volunteer Application Form and our Volunteer Coordinator will be in touch with you to arrange an induction session.

The koalas we work with are wild koalas and therefore cannot be picked up, handled and treated like captive born koalas.

To ensure your safety while volunteering with Friends of the Koala, please wear a comfortable long sleeve shirt and trousers. We recommend you wear old work clothes. We also recommend strong safety work boots with protective toe caps. Covered shoes are essential.

Some positions require volunteers to attend formal training prior to commencing in the role, while other roles may provide on-the-job training. Training is generally provided by Friends of the Koala.

The minimum commitment to volunteer is 4 weeks (volunteering 5 days a week) however this is generally offered to interstate and international travellers. Most of our volunteers’ volunteer on a regular basis, committing to 3-4 hours one day a week, depending on the role.

There is no need for qualifications or industry specific experience. What we look for is motivation, confidence, a strong work ethic and a genuine desire to care for our koalas.

You should be in good health and be reasonably fit and prepared to take part to the best of your ability. We ask all prospective volunteers to declare any medical conditions, allergies, disabilities or existing injuries that may affect participation. This will be discussed with you in a confidential manner.

Friends of the Koala provides volunteer opportunities throughout the year. All new volunteers are required to participate in a two-month probationary period. This gives you the best possible opportunity to immerse yourself in the experience, as well as gain valuable feedback from our experienced supervisors.

In order to become a volunteer with Friends of the Koala you must:

• Be 18 years old or over
• Be a member of Friends of the Koala
• Undertake our volunteer training and agree to act in accordance with our Code of Conduct.
• Have your own email address as this is how we communicate with our volunteers

All adoptions packages are a single payment and last for 12 months from the date of purchase. You can choose to renew your adoption after this time and continue your support of our vital work. 

The major food trees utilised by koalas in the North Coast region are listed below. 
Primary browse trees 

• Forest Red Gum (Eucalyptus tereticornis) 
• Tallowwood (Eucalyptus microcorys) 
• Swamp Mahogany (Eucalyptus robusta) 

Secondary browse trees 

• Flooded Gum (Eucalyptus grandis) 
• Grey Gum (Eucalyptus propinqua) 
• Blackbutt (Eucalyptus pilularis) 
• Sydney Blue Gum (Eucalyptus saligna) 
• Scribbly Gum (Eucalyptus signata) 
• Grey Ironbark (Eucalyptus siderophloia) 
• Forest Oak (Allocasuarina torulosa) 
• Brush Box (Lophostemon confertus) 
• Paperbark (Melaleuca quinquenervia) 

We sell these species in our native plant nursery. If you would like to place an order, please contact Mark Wilson at [email protected]  

While Friends of the Koala can’t stop development or land clearing from happening we can make submissions against development applications for proposed land clearing and development within our licenced area.

If the trees are already being knocked down, it is likely too late to protect a site. However, if trees are being knocked down without the permission of Local Government (and in some instances State Government), then any clearing may be illegal. Your first step should be to contact the Local Council to report the clearing and ask the clearing to be halted until Council have investigated.

We operate a community nursery at our centre in East Lismore and issue koala food trees for $1 each to landholders in the Northern Rivers region where koalas reside. We also grow and sell a wide range of native plants including trees, shrubs, ground covers, grasses, rainforest plants, etc. If you would like to place an order, please contact Mark Wilson (Nursery Manager) at [email protected] or phone 0413 339 554.