The NSW Government is collaborating with landholders across the Monaro to expand the reach of its innovative koala monitoing project.
The citizen science project, known as Koala Karaoke equips landholders with audio monitors to record the distinctive bellows of male koalas, which are used to attract females and deter rival males.
These recordings are then analysed to help map, understand and protect local koala populations and their habitat.
Following successful surveys in the Southern Tablelands Area of Regional Koala Significance (ARKS) and Avonside areas, the project is looking to work with landholders across the greater Monaro, to gain a further understanding of the local koala population.
Landholders in places such as Michelago, Bredbo, Burra and as far south as Nimmitabel are encouraged to join the program and take part in upcoming surveys by registering their interest online.
The Koala Karaoke project is run by South East Local Land Services in conjunction with the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. This project is also funded from the Australian Government's Saving Koalas Fund.
Since its inception in 2021, the Koala Karaoke project has seen more than 130 people deploy some 200 audio recorders on private properties and within National Park reserves.
Surveys over the past three years have covered approximately 700,000 hectares across the ARKS and surrounding areas.
The region wide survey results from 2022 found koala presence within the ARKS was detected on 72% of the recorders.
Outside the ARKS, koalas were detected on 6% of sites, indicating koalas continue to occupy areas across the Monaro and Southern Tablelands.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development Forest Science team also collaborated on the project by using in-house AI to detect koala bellows from the thousands of hours of sound recordings.
Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty said:
"Koala Karaoke is a great opportunity for landholders and government to work together to help better understand local koala populations.
"I'm encouraging landholders across the greater Monaro to register their interest in this innovative project and help play their part.
"With previous surveys showing us there are high detection rates of koalas on private properties, it highlights the key role landholders play in helping protect this iconic species.
"The NSW Government is committed to supporting landholders in managing and enhancing koala habitat, and mapping projects like this are crucial to understanding local populations and guiding future investments. "
Member for Monaro, Steve Whan said:
"Over my years talking to landowners in our area, I have observed a change in attitude with many now keen to find out if they have koalas on their land. That seems to be resulting in more sightings and, with this program, a much better appreciation of where they are and what management is needed to ensure they thrive.
"It is also very clear that Koalas and working farms can coexist and that is an important message.
"This is a terrific program which goes hand in hand with some good work already from our local communities and agencies.
Koalas are some of the world's most iconic animal species. I'm pleased to see the NSW Government's commitment to ensuring we have the most up to date information and data on their population in our region.
