NSW Government completes first statewide koala survey

THE NSW Government has completed its first comprehensive statewide koala survey.

It says it provides the most accurate picture to date of where koalas live and how populations are distributed across the state.

Using new tools such as heat-detecting drones and acoustic recorders, scientists surveyed more than 1,000 locations across national parks, state forests and private land.

The government says the updated estimate of 274,000 koalas reflects “improved technology and more extensive survey work”.

Previous estimates of NSW’s koala populations were conducted through more traditional survey methods such as visual sightings and scat analysis.

The NSW population estimate is in line with the recently released National Koala Monitoring Program, led by the Australian Government in partnership with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).

Minister for Climate Change and the Environment Penny Sharpe said, “This survey gives us a clearer understanding of where koalas remain in NSW.

“It is an important tool to guide conservation decisions.

“The Minns Labor Government has a strong record on koala conservation, and this survey shows we have been making the right decisions to ensure their survival.”