Wildlife Spotlight: Redcliffe’s Most Cuddly Marsupials 

One of the most beloved furry marsupials has seen an increase in sightings across the Redcliffe area recently.  

The iconic symbol of Australia, the koala, has always been an integral part of the peninsula’s wildlife. 

The scientific name for koala is Phascolarctos cinereus, which is broken down into two translations. The first one is the genus: Phascolarctos combining Greek words meaning “pouched bear”; and the second one is the species: cinereus, meaning ashy-grey (derived from Latin).  

The word koala is said to come from the Dharug peoples, which means ‘no water.’ However, for the Gubbi Gubbi peoples, who traditionally came from Redcliffe, koala is referred to as Gulla.  

A popular hotspot for koala sightings on the Redcliffe Peninsula is currently along the Kippa-Ring train line, starting at Chelsea Street Reserve in Rothwell.  

Several adult koalas, including young, have been spotted resting in the forks of the trees along the footpath.

Local Sightings, Conservation Success, and Koala Care

Despite the overall population of koalas declining across Australia, successful conservation efforts in the region, including the Green Infrastructure Program and the Koala Management Plan, are helping protect and restore koala habitat. The koala population at The Mill in Petrie has increased by 22 per cent annually since 2017.  

Koalas typically live in a range of open forest and woodland communities, making parts of the peninsula’s wooded areas suitable habitat.   

Their habitat is defined by a select group of food trees, as the marsupial is herbivorous and consumes up to 500 grams of eucalypt leaves per day, among a few other varieties, such as brush box, paperbark, and bloodwood tree leaves.  

Koalas can sleep up to 20 hours per day due to their low-energy diet and are mostly spotted sleeping amongst the trees in the area. 

The main difference between male and female koalas is size. Male koalas are noticeably larger and have a distinctly larger black nose, whereas females are smaller and may have a clean white chest with a backward-facing pouch for their young.  

If you happen to spot an injured koala, call the Moreton Bay Koala Rescue 24-hour hotline on 0401 080 333.  

Find more information here.