Tree donation to assist koalas in care

PORT Stephens Koala Hospital (PSKH) is expanding its conservation efforts thanks to a koala feed tree donation from Forestry Corporation.

The only wildlife hospital between Sydney and Port Macquarie, PSKH plays a key role in the care and rehabilitation of injured koalas in the Port Stephens area, which is home to one of the state’s significant koala populations.

For the fourth straight year, Forestry Corporation has donated 2,000 feed tree seedlings to the hospital.

PSKH President Ron Land said the trees will be planted and cultivated to support koala feed programs.

“Every koala in our care needs approximately 1,000 trees which are vital for both koala feed and habitat, so the donation from Forestry Corporation is greatly appreciated,” Mr Land said.

“Hunter Water has recently provided the koala hospital access to around 100 hectares of land adjoining the Grahamstown Dam, on which we now have around 3,000 trees planted.

“The donations from Forestry Corporation have contributed to this and we are grateful for the continued support in this important work around koala conservation,” he said.

Forestry Corporation Partnerships Leader Alex Capararo said the donated seedlings include primary koala feed tree species – forest red gum and swamp mahogany.

“It is a great collaborative effort utilising the propagation capabilities of eucalyptus tree species from the Forestry Corporation Nursery in Grafton to deliver these vital trees, which are used for such critical conservation and care of koalas,” Mr Capararo said.

“We are proud to assist and play a role in the exceptional efforts by the Port Stephens Koala Hospital,” he said.

As the land manager for NSW State Forests, Forestry Corporation grows millions of seedlings each year to plant in softwood and hardwood plantations.

The koala hospital currently has 22 koalas under care and carries a capacity of 40 animals.

The facility recently underwent a $2 million hospital expansion and staff are working towards having 40,000 trees available for future koala feed.