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Taronga Zoo through its Strategic Conservation Partnerships Program is working with local Darrunda Wajaarr Rangers, Envite and the Jaliigirr Biodiversity Alliance to enhance and protect high quality Koala habitat on Aboriginal owned land at Mylestom. Taronga Zoo has provided $15,000 in funding for bush regenerators to remove lantana from the site.
Coffs Harbour and District Local Aboriginal Land Council program coordinator AJ Perkins said “We’re very excited to be working with Taronga Zoo on this project; the site is active with Koalas, many of the trees have Koala scratching’s and Koala scats are easy to find.”
The project location adjoins Bongil Bongil National Park; Bongil Bongil NP is recognised as a stronghold for Koalas in the Coffs Harbour Region. The site forms part of two landscape corridors identified by the Jaliigirr Biodiversity Alliance as part of the Great Eastern Ranges initiative
Mr Perkins said ”It’s very unique to still find Koalas this close to the coast, we have the dunes a couple of hundred metres away and Koalas active in the trees.”
The project will have immediate benefits to the local Koala population; the removal of lantana will reduce physical barriers therefore increasing the opportunity for Koalas to move adequately throughout the site to desired feed trees. The project will benefit the site in the longer term with the dispersal of lantana reduced by the removal of seeding lantana bushes.
“On ground works will see the Coffs Harbour and District Aboriginal Land Council Darrunda Wajaarr team systemically remove lantana in areas mapped as core Koala habitat at the project site” added Mr Perkins.
Lantana is listed as a key threatening process in the Schedules of the Threatened Species Conservation Act. Lantana may prove to be a threat to additional animal species or populations listed under the act.
Bellingen Shire Coastal Comprehensive Koala Plan of Management has identified the site as core koala habitat and mapped the area as preferred primary and secondary habitat.