Fatima Halloum
Koala’s have a reputation for being lazy animals who spend their days sleeping and snacking on eucalyptus leaves.
Local koala expert Janine Duffy thinks people would be surprised to learn otherwise.
“They’re so agile, no one thinks this, they think they’re like sloths,” Joanne said.
“They’re incredibly strong and fast moving.”
Joanne is the president of the Koala Clancy Foundation, an independent charity that advocates for protection of wild koalas.
In the last five years, the foundation has dedicated countless hours to planting trees to improve habitat options.
“In 2017 Koala Clancy Foundation set a target to plant koala trees along the entire length of the Little River, from just north of Little River township to Staughton Vale in the Brisbane Ranges,” Joanne said.
“Koala Clancy Foundation have planted 24,362 trees along the Little River, with another 10,800 expected this year.”
Joanne said Little River serves as an important biolink for koalas as it is the only pathway between You Yangs and Brisbane Ranges, but the lack of trees in the area makes it difficult for the marsupial to travel.
“I’ve seen koalas crossing the open paddocks, and in the scattered trees near the Little River, looking for better habitat,” Joanne said.
The foundation hopes to plant another link this year, this time from the east.
“In 2021 we completed a huge 8000 tree project across the northern slopes of the You Yangs, linking to the Little River, with the support of an Environmental Sustainability Grant from the City of Greater Geelong,” she said.
