CONSERVATIONISTS around NSW will be excited by news two koalas have boldly gone where no koala has gone before – or at least where none have been seen in many years.
Two koalas have been spotted in Dharug National Park, north of Sydney, on night vision camera footage, making them the first koalas sighted in the area in decades.
The two separate sightings were recorded in August and September.
National Parks and Wildlife service ranger Sarah Brookes said she had never spotted a koala in the area in her 20 years on the job.
She said the sightings had coincided with the koala mating season, which begins in August and lasts until February.
“This is a time of increased movement for koalas as they leave their trees and disperse, running the risk of crossing paths with cars and dogs,” Sarah said.
“If you see a koala in the wild, please leave it alone and provide us with details of where you saw it so it can be recorded.”
- Park visitors should report koala sightings to the local National Parks and Wildlife Service. To report injured koalas, call WIRES or WildlifeArc. (02) 4320-4200, nationalparks.nsw.gov.au
Getting there...
From Sydney by car take Galston Road from Hornsby or the Old Northern Road from Castle Hill or Dural; these roads join at Middle Dural to become the Old Northern Road.
This takes you north to Wisemans Ferry, where you can take your car across the Hawkesbury River on the car ferry or leave it on the south side and cross as a pedestrian to enter the park.
From the Central Coast, take Peats Ridge Road off the F3 and then Wisemans Ferry Road from Central Mangrove to the Mill Creek campground and picnic area.
