Parks Victoria
Veterinary assessments of French Island's koalas are underway as part of DEECA and Parks Victoria's long-term management of koala welfare throughout Victoria.
This is guided and informed by the Victorian Koala Management Strategy, which was developed collaboratively with Traditional Owners, scientists, veterinarians, animal welfare organisations, wildlife carers, government agencies from Victoria and interstate, and the Victorian community.
Unlike in other states, in Victoria, koalas are not endangered, and their population is secure.
Parks Victoria is working with DEECA to continue to monitor and respond to the health and habitat of koalas at French Island, as we have done for many years.
Because there are no natural predators and largely no disease affecting the introduced population of koalas on French Island, koala numbers have grown.
The high-density population is putting pressure on the island's ecosystems, including the eucalypt trees they feed on, resulting in both forest canopy loss and koala welfare concerns.
Parks Victoria is conducting routine health assessments of individual koalas found in areas of French Island where vegetation has been eaten faster than it can regenerate, with each koala individually assessed by qualified veterinary staff.
To help slow population growth, healthy females will be implanted with contraceptive devices and released back into their habitat, alongside healthy males.
To prevent suffering, koalas found to have extremely poor body condition and unlikely to survive will be humanely euthanised. Where the mother is euthanised, her joey will be relocated to the Phillip Island Nature Park.
Relocation of large numbers of koalas from French Island is not being considered due to the severe risks to the health and wellbeing of koalas, instead focusing on the long term healthy sustainability of the local population.
These actions are being taken as part of Victoria's ongoing management of koala welfare to ensure koalas and their habitat at French Island are secure, healthy and sustainable.
A koala on French Island. Veterinary assessments of the population are underway as part of long-term management. Credit: Parks Victoria
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