The shocking number of koala deaths in the region has made headlines in the UK, where the tabloid Daily Mail has published an image of four dead animals saying it "highlights the growing threat posed to the native animal in parts of Australia".
Seven koalas have been killed in Byron Shire in the past two months, including a big healthy male hit by a car on Ewingsdale Road. Others have died from dog attacks because irresponsible road-building and tree-felling forces them out of their safe habitat.
Devastated Bangalow Koalas president Linda Sparrow has written to Malcolm Turnbull appealing for him to do more to protect koalas. The group is seeking donations to buy tree stock, to create corridors for the koalas to travel along.
Ballina MP Tamara Smith is calling on the NSW government to establish a monitoring programme to ensure that koalas are located, tracked and given health checks.
"I also call on the government to increased funding for local wildlife rescue services," Ms Smith said.
Bangalow Koalas are campaigning to get road signs made and working with Byron Shire Council to have them placed beside busy local roads urging motorists to slow down.
The threat to the koala population was a major reason given by objectors to the West Byron development, which is likely to cut the population of 240 in half.
Earlier this year four koalas died at Meerschaum Vale near the Pacific Highway upgrade - by cars and indirectly the disruption caused by highway construction, including the removal of food trees, increased vehicle noise, dust, rock blasting and heavy vibration rollers.
Meanwhile, Bangalow Koalas are holding a planting day on Saturday, August 18, to put 600 habitat trees in the ground. Anyone keen to lend a hand is invited.
And help stop the deforestation that is killing our koalas by supporting the Towards Zero Deforestation Roadshow which is coming to Ballina and Byron Bay next week.
