Because spotting is slow and expensive, estimates of koala populations vary wildly.
Photo: 123RF
As a result, it s difficult for scientists and conservationists to know just how many koalas are out there.
In New South Wales the population could be around 36,000, but last year s NSW parliamentary inquiry heard those figures are outdated and unreliable and the real number could be half that.
The same inquiry recommended exploring the use of drones to gain a more accurate head-count.
Happily, researchers from the University of Newcastle were already testing drones in collaboration with the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment.
Their study, published in the journal
New research suggests drones are a cheaper and more effective way of counting koalas in the wild and could ultimately help save the vulnerable species.
Drones count koalas faster and cheaper than manual spotting methods: study
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SatSaturday 9
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JanJanuary 2021 at 8:28pm
Accurate estimates of koala populations is notoriously hard, but new research suggests drones may offer a cheaper and more effective method.
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For an animal that s culturally ubiquitous, koalas are remarkably hard to spot in the wild.
As a result, it s difficult for scientists and conservationists to know just how many koalas are out there.
In New South Wales the population could be around 36,000, but last year s NSW parliamentary inquiry heard those figures are outdated and unreliable and the real number could be half that.
Australia: Koala And Her Baby Cross The Road indiatimes.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from indiatimes.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Federal Government accused of wasting time and money on koala research instead of saving habitat
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Deborah Tabart says saving trees is the only thing that matters.
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Australia s principal koala conservation group says the Federal Government is in denial about the threat to koalas.
Key points:
The Australian Koala Foundation says the Government is in denial about koala numbers
Foundation CEO Deborah Tabart says a census just delays action to save habitat
The Australian Koala Foundation has accused the Federal Government of wasting time and money in a pointless census project instead of protecting habitat the one thing that would help the vulnerable marsupial.