WHY THIS WORK MATTERS

Dr Chris West, Koala Life director

It’s about ensuring a future for koalas but also the habitat and that brings with it this whole tale of everything else and helping to get that shift in society’s priorities and care for nature.

Professor Chris Daniels, Koala Life founder and chair

Because it’s a story of hope, it isn’t always all doom and gloom.

There are things that we can do. We can bring back animals from the brink, we can save ecosystems.

It’s about attempting to limit the damage environmentally across the board. So if there are practical things that we can do, that are based in evidence, and that’s where I come in, then I feel like I can get out of bed in the morning.

Professor Corey Bradshaw, Flinders University Professor of Global Ecology

Lisien Loan, Department for Environment and Water Conservation and Wildlife director

I see a really unique opportunity that creates a population that you can actually get some really good evidence on which is much harder to do in a wild situation or anywhere else. And about what it can mean for changes in conservation practices going forward.

The project is important because it empowers other groups to see you can actually do something. Stop talking about it. Stop bemoaning why it’s so hard. You can do it. If you actually want to do it.

Dr Ian Hough, Koala Life research manager

Wildlife keeper Ashleigh Hunter with Apollo the koala, also pictured opposite, who was a part of a group of male koalas from Victoria’s Strzelecki Ranges, at Cleland Conservation Park. Pictures: Tom Huntley