Koala fatality in Dingo State Forest timber plantation

Forestry Corporation was informed by timber harvesting contractors last week that an injured koala had been found in a timber plantation area where harvesting was taking place in Dingo State Forest on the NSW mid north coast.

General Manager Hardwood Forests Division Daniel Tuan said, “Our contractors informed us that they had located an injured koala in a timber plantation last week. It was immediately transported to a local koala care group who arranged veterinary care.

“Unfortunately, we were informed later that the koala did not survive.

"Nobody wants to see wildlife injured and this is an unusual and upsetting situation.

"We immediately reported the matter to our regulators and they and we are both investigating this incident.

"As a precautionary measure, we undertook an operational stand down and toolbox talk with all of our crews and field staff on the north coast to reinforce our obligations, expectations and protocols.”

Koala injury in Kalateenee State Forest

Forestry Corporation was informed by timber harvesting contractors last week that an injured koala had been found in a harvesting area of the Kalateenee State Forest.

The koala was immediately transported to a local koala care group and is recovering.

General Manager Hardwood Forests Division Daniel Tuan said, “injuries to koalas during timber harvesting operations in State forests are not common and we have investigated this incident. We will further investigate the operation to determine if processes were followed and if there is more that we could do to avoid similar incidents in the future. This incident has also been reported to regulators.”

Forestry Corporation has been undertaking a koala GPS tracking research program in conjunction with NSW DPI in in the Kalateenee State Forest since 2018.  The research has provided a number of insights into koala use of State forests where timber harvesting occurs and continues to inform our operations.

More about key koala research.

Media contact: 0427 939 543/ 0408 779 903