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Media Release
Koala conservation initiative takes a national role
May 18th, 2010
Carolyn Beaton and Alex Harris - two neighbours in Noosa who share a concern for koala conservation - have
taken a leadership position with their strategy for community education and engagement in the conservation of
Their refreshing grassroots movement has emerged to help tackle the questions no one can accurately answer:
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Just how many koalas are left?
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Where do they live?
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In what general condition?
contributed by members of the public. With hundreds of members and koala sightings recorded in Queensland
since its launch in February, Koaladiaries.com.au is now available for the submission and viewing of sightings
nationwide. The data being sourced includes live sightings, injuries and deaths. Sightings may be searched by
area, time-lines or cause of death or injury. The information gathered is freely available to all members, be they
government agencies, individuals, schools or community groups, to assist with policy making, programs and
activities such as scientific research.
Alex Harris built the website and canvassed ESRI Australia to provide the mapping technology required, leading
the country in the integration of ESRI’s software with the crowdsourcing of geocoded data.
Lifelong wildlife conservationist Bob Irwin is a fan. “What these girls have achieved in so short a time without
funding or the backing of any kind of conservation organisation is remarkable. The intent of Koaladiaries.com.au
with its Koala Sighting Census is to engage the community in conservation efforts. Instead of being the realm of
scientists and activists alone, Koala Diaries makes conservation accessible to the whole community. This is the
most sensible and exciting approach to conservation I have seen in a long while,” he says.
Koaladiaries.com.au may assist the community in identifying significant koala populations, "at risk"
populations, and potentially build an understanding of the home range movements of individual koalas where
their location warrants special attention.
Other functions of the site include education, a national koala carers’ forum to share information, photo galleries
ENDS
Carolyn Beaton
Mobile: 0439 030 260
Email: carolyn@koaladiaries.com.au
Alex Harris
Mobile: 0412 635 274
Email: alex@koaladiaries.com.au
NEWS 
