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In 2024, Brisbane Airport proudly sponsored the Lantern Parade as part of the LUMINOUS Festival, an event that has grown from...
Brisbane Airport is committed to supporting community efforts through its Community Giving Fund program, and one of this year’s recipients, Pine Rivers Koala Care, is doing vital work to protect and rehabilitate koalas in south east Queensland.
Natasha Barker, a koala rescuer and coordinator with over seven years of experience, has seen firsthand the challenges of wildlife rescue. "It’s not for the faint-hearted," Natasha explains, reflecting on her early days when she found the emotional toll overwhelming. Despite these difficulties, her passion for saving koalas and other native species has only grown stronger.
Pine Rivers Koala Care has been operating in the Brisbane and Moreton Bay region for many years, and their work goes beyond just rescue. They are also involved in habitat protection, planting thousands of trees each year to connect wildlife corridors. This ensures that koalas can safely move between habitats, even in increasingly urbanised areas. One of their wildlife corridor planting initiatives in Strathpine found 22 healthy koalas in a small radius, nine of them with joeys in a recent count.
Education is also a priority for the organisation, aiming to teach people about koala behaviour and the threats they face. Natasha shared a key example: many people assume that if a koala climbs a tree after being hit by a car, it’s fine. However, koalas often climb as a safety response despite serious injuries, and without quick intervention, they may not survive. Educating the public about these misconceptions is key to ensuring more timely rescues.
Brisbane Airport’s Community Giving Grant has been important in supporting these efforts. The funding has been used for two major projects: Pine Rivers Koala Care’s annual Wild Koala Day and the purchase of essential rescue equipment.
Wild Koala Day focuses on educating the public about koala conservation. With stalls from other rescue groups and government departments, attendees can learn about native wildlife through interactive displays. The grant helped cover the costs of printing eco-passports, which guide children through different learning stations and give them a fun way to engage with koala conservation.
In addition to supporting Wild Koala Day, the grant has helped Pine Rivers Koala Care purchase much-needed equipment, including rescue poles. These poles are used to safely retrieve koalas from trees, a critical tool for the organisation, especially during the busy breeding season. “We rely completely on donations and grants,” Natasha explains, highlighting how the funding has made an enormous difference in their ability to respond to the high volume of rescue calls.
The team at Pine Rivers Koala Care handles a wide range of cases, from minor injuries to life-threatening situations, and works closely with local councils, wildlife hospitals, and other rescue groups. Natasha points out that while car accidents and dog attacks are major threats to koalas, the biggest killer is disease, which is exacerbated by habitat destruction.
Looking to the future, Pine Rivers Koala Care hopes to expand its educational outreach, particularly in schools. Natasha believes that engaging the next generation is fundamental to ensuring a sustainable future for koalas.
For anyone interested in supporting Pine Rivers Koala Care, whether through volunteering or donations, there are many ways to get involved. “There’s always something someone can do,” Natasha shares.
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