Main image: Steve Offner, EBE.
Text: UNE Zoology student, Kathleen Murphy

Koalas are an iconic marsupial species of Australia and UNE is one of the few universities in Australia that is lucky enough to have them visiting our campus. In NSW, the fragmentation and modification of crucial habitat is a key threatening process for koalas and the Armidale campus serves as part of an  important corridor for this iconic species.  UNE is leading crucial research to understand how koalas are using our campus to help figure out where the best place to plant food trees is. This research relies on citizen science participation though, so if you see a koala around campus, take a photo and send it into koalas@une.edu.au to aid in the plotting of koalas! Or scan the QR code .

Koalas will eat around half a kilogram of eucalyptus leaves per day though they are extremely fussy when it comes to the type. The species of eucalyptus they favour changes throughout their range, but in the New England they love ribbon, mountain, and red gums. But while they love this food, it is highly toxic to them, so much so that mother koalas have to feed their babies poo to ready their guts to digest the tannins. Eucalyptus leaves also have little to no energy and take a long time to digest which is why you will find them sleeping for most of the day.

Thanks to UNE Environmental & Sustainability Manager Suzannah Mitchell, who came across this Armidale campus resident and was quick enough to capture the moment!