Symbio Wildlife Park and South32 Illawarra Metallurgical Coal have launched a new three-year partnership designed to help support koala conservation in the Illawarra and Macarthur regions of New South Wales.
As well as delivering practical measures to support local koala conservation, the partnership will provide educational opportunities and inspiration for local school students, helping to create greater awareness around the need to protect koalas and other endangered species.
The partnership and its initiatives align with the overarching NSW Koala Strategy, complementing conservation efforts that are already underway in other parts of the state, with the education component aligning with the NSW School Curriculums educational outcomes.
South32 Illawarra Metallurgical Coal is providing A$470,000 to support the partnership with Symbio Wildlife Park and its initiatives, which include:
- A new research program will use state-of-the-art drone-mounted thermal imaging cameras and other technology to help locate koalas in their natural habitats and map their locations to gain a greater understanding of local populations and their movements
- Creation of a new immersive conservation educational precinct at Symbio Wildlife Park, with the potential to help educate upwards of 200,000 visitors per year and provide information about the importance of protecting koalas and other endangered wildlife.
Image: Symbio Wildlife Park
