Home Range and Movement of the Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) in Fragmented High-Quality Coastal Habitat

Abstract

The Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) is an arboreal marsupial that has declined substantially, partially due to conflict with urban expansion. Understanding movement and home range size in urban habitat is therefore important, including road crossing propensity. The aim of this study was to use GPS collars to determine the home range size and road crossing propensity of the Koala in a fragmented, high-quality coastal habitat. GPS collars were fitted to seven Koalas between February 2014 and December 2015, with tracking periods ranging from 16 to 541 days, and positions logged hourly. We found that the home range of Koalas varied, from small to large (fixed kernel 95% range 1.33–68.63, median 2.75 ha), with small daily movement distances (μ 23–71 m). The frequency of road crossings was generally low, ranging from zero to 1.9 per month. These results suggest that high quality Swamp Sclerophyll Forest habitat where these animals were found is of the utmost importance to the local Koala population. Protection of this type of habitat is therefore paramount.