Status of Phillip Island's koala population

The last survey of Phillip Island's koala population (conducted in September 1998) indicated that there were between 60 and 100 koalas on the island.

The survey consisted of a systematic search of the island's reserves and a public phone-in to report koala sightings in residential areas. Twenty-nine adult koalas were located - five of these in residential areas and two with back young. Since koalas are notoriously hard to see during a koala count, Phillip Island Nature Park rangers estimate that this means that the population is actually two to three times this size.

The 1998 count suggests that koala numbers have stabilised following an alarming decline from an estimated 847 in 1973 to only 89 in 1988. However, koalas are still dying at a shameful rate, and there is much to be done before Phillip Island is once again a safe place for koalas to live.

During 1998, rangers attended nine of the island's koalas. Five died as a result of road trauma. Of the other four sick or injured koalas, only one survived to be released.

The situation in 1999 was even worse. Between January and June 1999, 10 koalas were killed. Six of these were killed on our roads. Tragically, two of those killed by cars had dependent joeys who subsequently died. And incomprehensibly, two were hit in front of other motorists who had slowed down to try to ensure the koalas' safety.

For information on how you can help protect Phillip Island's koalas, see our How to Help page.