Koala at Flowerdale

This Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) turned up unexpectedly at a large Flowerdale grazing property last weekend. The property backs on to the Mt.Disappointment State Forest, and the owners have undertaken considerable revegetation work over the years to improve the connectivity of remnant habitat areas – to the benefit of this koala and other wildlife such as Sugar Gliders and Brush-tailed Phascogales, which have recently been recorded close by.

When disturbed, the koala hurriedly scrambled up a young Blackwood tree (Acacia melanoxylon), as seen here – not its preferred habitat! But there are large old Swamp Gums (Eucalyptus ovata) beside a nearby creek and Long-leaf Box (Eucalyptus goniocalyx) not far away, both species that are commonly used by koalas for food [Lee & Martin, The Koala – a natural history].