NSW koala numbers higher than previously thought, but new data may not show true picture

According to this, the first comprehensive koala survey conducted in New South Wales suggests populations of the endangered marsupial are higher than previously thought.

The NSW government’s statewide survey, released on Thursday, estimates there are 274,000 koalas across the state.

More than 1,000 locations across national parks, state forests, and private land were surveyed, using new tools such as heat-detecting drones and acoustic recorders.

The number of koalas in NSW was previously uncertain, according to the state’s 2022 koala strategy, with estimates varying from 15,000 to 30,000 koalas.