The much-loved koala D’vine, whose image has highlighted the importance of local koalas, has died at The Channon.
Koalas were only last week lifted from the status of ‘vulnerable’ to ‘endangered’ by the federal government, recognising the koala is one step further along the pathway to extinction.
D’vine was healthy until recently when it was discovered that she has a dark-stained rump, a sign of possible chlamydial infection.
Her condition was reported to the Lismore Friends of the Koala. The koala rescue team arrived at The Channon immediately and set up a trap around her favourite Swamp Mahogany.
When captured she was taken to the koala hospital where she was examined and found to be seriously diseased. She was euthanased.
The Channon community is devastated as she was well known as the koala on the February page of the WATER Northern Rivers 2022 calendar.
Koalas in serious trouble
Koalas are in serious trouble in the Northern Rivers, as they are almost everywhere. D’vine belonged to the sub-population inhabiting the area where the proposed Dunoon Dam would be built. She lived just one kilometre from the proposed dam wall.
Local residents and koala experts including Dr Steve Phillips of Biolink, are concerned that the loss of 72 ha of koala habitat from the construction of the Dunoon Dam would have a disastrous effect on local koala numbers.
Nan Nicholson, who lives on the same area of land on which D’vine spent her last years, says destroying a large swathe of Tallowwood and Flooded Gum forest, and severing critical corridors that koalas use to move through the landscape, is completely unacceptable at this stage on the dive towards extinction.
‘Habitat loss is the major cause of koala decline and contributes to secondary threats such as disease, dog attack and car strike. With koalas on a rapid trajectory towards extinction in the NSW, it is critically important that every koala feed tree is preserved.’
Friends of the Koala in Lismore rescues and cares for koalas around the clock. They ask that anyone who sees a sick koala notifies them immediately on the Koala hotline 66 221 233.
Koala sightings can be reported to Friends of the Koala on their website.
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