Thousands of koala trees planted on historic grazing property

6 June 2024 – For the first time in decades, koalas have been spotted on a historic sheep-grazing property in Australia which had thousands of trees planted on it to bring the species back. 

IFAW is teaming up with Koala Clancy Foundation on June 15 and 16 to plant more than 8,100 trees on the property which sits along the Moorabool River in Victoria. This is in addition to 3,618 trees planted in June 2023. 

The region was once some of the best koala habitat in Victoria but was cleared for farming years ago—leaving koalas with 20% of what they used to have. This is compounded by climate change which is pushing koalas further south as they try to escape the heat and dryness. 

Early signs of koalas returning to the area were confirmed when, in early June a koala was spotted on the property - the second sighting since trees were first planted in 2023. Audio recordings have also picked up sounds of koalas on the property in the past year. 

“Hearing and seeing koalas so soon after we planted the first trees is such a promising sign. It’s proof that if you build it, they will come,” IFAW Wildlife Campaign Manager Josey Sharrad said. 

“Every tree planted is a lifeline for koalas and other wildlife. To see individuals dedicating pockets of their land to this iconic species gives us hope for the future of Australian wildlife.” 

Koala Clancy Foundation President Janine Duffy said it had been 100 years since koalas had habitat on this riverbank, and these 11,718 trees would be the first step in giving the land back to wildlife. 

"After years of no koala sightings, we were so heartened to hear koalas nearby after our 2023 planting, and then to find two on the property was icing on the cake,” Ms Duffy said. 

“We’ve now increased the planting area to give these two koalas and hopefully others more habitat.” 

The owners of the 459-hectare property are former farmers passionate about restoring koala habitat. Liz and Ross Wilkie are hopeful the recent sightings are just the beginning.  

“We wanted to dedicate part of our property to koalas because there has been a marked decline of koalas here in the past 20 years. Knowing koalas have already been spotted since last year’s planting gives us even more hope the population will bounce back while also improving the surrounding ecosystem for other native wildlife,” Ms Wilkie said. 

ENDS 

Press Contact 

Dominica Mack (before June 14) 
m: 0460 432 901  
e: dmack@ifaw.org  

Jen Walker (after June 14) 
e: jwalker@ifaw.org  

About IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) - IFAW is a global non-profit helping animal and people thrive together. We are experts and everyday people, working across seas, oceans and in more than 40 countries around the world. We rescue, rehabilitate and release animals, and we restore and protect their natural habitats. The problems we’re up against are urgent and complicated. To solve them, we match fresh thinking with bold action. We partner with local communities, governments, non-governmental organisations and businesses. Together, we pioneer new and innovative ways to help all species flourish. See how at ifaw.org  

About the Koala Clancy Foundation - Koala Clancy Foundation plants trees for koalas, creates new habitat, educates the community, supports scientific research and advocates for protection of wild koalas and their forest habitats. The organisation has planted 95,854 koala trees beside rivers on Melbourne’s Western Plains and in East Gippsland, Victoria and plans to plant 300,000 koala trees on the Western Plains by 2030. Koala Clancy Foundation is an independent registered charity and not for profit organisation based in Staughton Vale, near Geelong, Victoria. https://www.koalaclancyfoundation.org.au/