150 Koalas Die Every Year at “Roadkill Hotspot”

A recent study highlights a deadly stretch of Australia’s Peak Downs Highway, where nearly 150 koalas were killed by vehicles in 2023 alone. This 50-kilometer section of road, which links Mackay to the Bowen Basin coal region, has become a severe risk for koalas as cars strike down these endangered marsupials at an alarming rate.

Koalas face numerous threats beyond vehicle collisions, including habitat loss, disease, wildfires, and attacks by dogs. With an estimated population between 100,000 and 250,000, each loss further strains their survival. Yet along this road in Queensland, the number of fatalities stands out—nearly half of the national yearly average of koala road deaths occur here.

The study, published in Animals, suggests that uniform vegetation in the region might be causing koalas to wander unpredictably, making it harder to create safe crossing points. “There are horrendous numbers of koalas getting hit and killed by vehicles every year on this relatively short stretch of road,” said Rolf Schlagloth, a co-author of the study. He emphasized the need to reroute infrastructure away from prime koala habitats.

Some researchers argue that government Support is insufficient, with Griffith University’s Douglas Kerlin pointing out that protective measures are currently centered on South East Queensland, leaving other areas, like Central Queensland, largely neglected. Immediate solutions could include wildlife-exclusion fencing and the retrofitting of bridges to keep animals safe. “We have monitored three bridges that had been retrofitted with short sections of wildlife exclusion/diversion fencing,” Schlagloth added, suggesting these could help redirect koalas safely under the roads.

Driver awareness is another proposed solution, as improved visibility could reduce collisions. Schlagloth noted, “The better or greater the visibility a driver has, the less likely it is for a koala vehicle collision to occur.”

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