2016-07-12 - Item 10 - Att 1 - Koala Conservation Plan

       Noosa Shire Koala Conservation Plan 2016




     Chart 1. Data on Koala in-patients at Australia Zoo




     Domestic dogs
     Domestic dogs are regulated under Noosa’s Animal Management Local Law No. 2. In public
     spaces dogs must remain under control by the owner at all times and on private land, must be
     confined to property boundaries. Local Law No. 2 also regulates the restraint of dogs in Koala
     Habitat Areas. On occasion koalas wander onto private property, or dog owners fail to keep
     control of their dogs in public spaces, and koalas are attacked.

     Other Councils have declared through local laws, dog and cat free estates as a measure to
     protect wildlife. Given the low proportion of attacks on koalas by domestic dogs in Noosa Shire
     it is recommended that resources be directed to other areas such as wild dog control, disease
     research and fauna sensitive road design. However, public education on dog control is still
     important. Noosa Council has a ‘Responsible Dog Ownership’ program and education on dog
     control and minimising attacks on native animals is to be part of this program.

     Wild dogs
     In one study of the Moreton Bay Rail Project at Amcor, one rogue dog was responsible for 8
     cases of koala mortality in one month alone. However this was an unusual case and there is
     no evidence to suggest that this is happening in Noosa Shire. Given the potential of wild dogs
     to significantly impact on koala populations, it is recommended that Council’s current wild dog
     control strategy continues and efforts be directed in and around the mapped priority Koala
     Habitat Areas.




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