When Lucy the koala was rescued from a rural NSW property two years ago, she was suffering from chlamydia*, a disease widespread among koalas.

Today, she’s one of the lucky residents of tree corridors in the Northern Rivers region* dedicated to protecting the nation’s beloved marsupial* by preserving its rapidly shrinking habitat.

The vast networks of vegetation*, planted by local conservation group* Bangalow Koalas, are a lifeline* for koalas and numerous other species like the endangered glossy black cockatoo, gliders*, possums, and wallabies.

Located in the lush hinterland* near famous Byron Bay*, they provide safe passage across the koalas’ increasingly fragmented habitat*, increasing genetic diversity* and protecting the animals from human threats.

“Our corridors are actually trying to get them away from humans, from cars, from dogs,” said Bangalow Koalas president Linda Sparrow. “They can safely move across the landscape and not have to put up with us humans.”

The koala is predicted to be extinct in the wild* in NSW by 2050, with some of the biggest threats being wildfires, habitat loss through logging* and land clearing* for development. The eucalyptus leaf-munching marsupial has already been declared endangered* in several states.

A 2022 government report showed that Australia has lost more mammal species than any other continent.

Founded in 2019, Bangalow Koalas has planted over 336,000 trees on 119 properties, contributing to koala conservation and boosting the local ecosystem*. The group, which relies on community volunteers, aims to plant 500,000 trees by 2025.

“The neighbour would want to join and then another neighbour will want to join,” Ms Sparrow said. “It’s like a domino effect, where all these people all over the Northern Rivers want to join our corridor.”

Volunteer Lindy Stacker, who has been planting trees for over five years, said the activity was “better than meditation*, better than yoga”, and had rallied the community together.

A recent report by the Australian Koala Foundation said the iconic marsupial was worth an estimated $3.2 billion per annum to the tourism industry.

However, the World Wildlife Fund – Australia reported alarming declines* in koala populations, with a 50 per cent drop in Queensland and a 62 per cent drop in NSW since 2001.

Ms Sparrow remains committed to the cause.

“I can’t imagine a world where there’s no koalas in the wild,” she said.

“We’re going to do everything we can possibly to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

POLL

GLOSSARY

• chlamydia: A disease that affects koalas and is common among them
• marsupial: an animal with a pouch, like a koala
• tree corridors: areas with a network of trees that provide a safe passage for koalas and other animals
• Northern Rivers region: a specific area in New South Wales known for its rivers and nature
• conservation group: a group of people working to protect and preserve the environment and its wildlife
• vegetation: plants and trees
• lifeline: something that provides essential support and protection
• gliders: animals that can glide through the air, similar to flying squirrels
• lush hinterland: a fertile and densely vegetated area
• Byron Bay: a famous coastal town in New South Wales
• fragmented habitat: an environment that is broken into smaller, disconnected pieces
• increasing genetic diversity: having a variety of genetic traits within a population
• extinct in the wild: no longer existing in their natural habitat
• logging: cutting down trees for wood or other purposes
• land clearing: removing vegetation from an area, often for development
• endangered: a status indicating that a species is at risk of becoming extinct
• boosting the local ecosystem: enhancing the natural balance and health of the local environment
• domino effect: when one action leads to a series of similar actions
• meditation: a practice of calming the mind
• alarming declines: a significant and concerning decrease

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Zoo holds up a mirror to nature

QUICK QUIZ

1. Who is Lucy, and what challenges did she face before becoming one of the lucky residents of the tree corridors in the Northern Rivers region?
2. Explain the purpose of the tree corridors created by Bangalow Koalas. How do they benefit koalas and other species in the area?
3. What are some of the threats faced by koalas in their natural habitat, and why is the creation of tree corridors important in addressing these threats?
4. Describe the efforts of Bangalow Koalas in terms of tree planting and their goal for the future. How does the community contribute to this initiative?
5. Why is the koala considered endangered, and what does Linda Sparrow, the president of Bangalow Koalas, say about why she is committed to helping them?

LISTEN TO THIS STORY

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. A World Without Koalas
What would be the flow on effect of a world without Koala’s?

Think about the effects on the environment, tourism, habitat, other animals etc.

Why is it important for us to ensure this species lives on?

Time: allow 20 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Science, Personal and social, Critical and creative thinking

2. Extension
Do a mock interview with a Koala about how they feel about their threatened species and what’s happening to them.

Write a list of questions and answers as if a Koala was answering them.

Time: allow 20 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Science, Personal and social, Critical and creative thinking

VCOP ACTIVITY
Read this!
A headline on an article – or a title on your text – should capture the attention of the audience, telling them to read this now. So choosing the perfect words for a headline or title is very important.

Create three new headlines for the events that took place in this article. Remember, what you write and how you write it will set the pace for the whole text, so make sure it matches.

Read out your headlines to a partner and discuss what the article will be about based on the headline you created. Discuss the tone and mood you set in just your few, short words. Does it do the article justice? Will it capture the audience’s attention the way you hoped? Would you want to read more?

Consider how a headline or title is similar to using short, sharp sentences throughout your text. They can be just as important as complex ones. Go through the last text you wrote and highlight any short, sharp sentences that capture the audience.