Sydney, Nov 13: South Australians are being urged to take part in the Great Koala Count as researchers work to track the impact of drought, habitat loss and urban expansion on the state’s koala populations.
Running from November 15–23, the annual survey forms part of the National Koala Monitoring Program (NKMP), a long-term national effort to monitor population trends and environmental pressures facing koalas.
Koalas across the state continue to face significant stressors, including drought conditions, disease such as chlamydia, shrinking habitat and the ongoing ecological effects of recent bushfires. This year’s count will help researchers determine how these factors are shaping koala numbers, particularly in outer metropolitan and regional environments.
Areas where citizen scientists are especially needed include the Adelaide Hills and Mount Lofty Ranges, Fleurieu Peninsula, Kangaroo Island, the South-East, Riverland and Eyre Peninsula.
“This year’s Annual Great Koala Count in South Australia is providing more than just a census of a species — it’s a call to action, to assist the local koala population,” says Flinders University’s Professor Karen Burke da Silva, who leads the SA National Koala Monitoring Program.
“We’re particularly concerned about how this year’s drought may be influencing koala numbers, so this count will help us understand the environmental stressors affecting these animals and guide future conservation efforts.”
The survey will also capture information on disease impacts and how koalas are coping with major environmental changes on Kangaroo Island, where plantation removal and bushfire recovery have modified the landscape.
Last year’s Great Koala Count received 367 public data submissions, and organisers hope to surpass that number in 2025 to strengthen the accuracy and reliability of population insights.
Professor Burke da Silva is encouraging the public to download the Koala Spotter app and log koala sightings throughout the survey period. These submissions help map areas of koala abundance, supporting targeted conservation strategies.
The initiative has also gained national recognition, with the Flinders University team leading South Australia’s koala monitoring efforts recently winning a Eureka Prize for Scientific Engagement.
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