Once in a lifetime Koala sighting at family-owned wildlife sanctuary

A Koala found on Wandiyali sanctuary. © David Larcombe

Conservationists at a wildlife sanctuary on the outskirts of Canberra are celebrating a rare visitor, with the recent sighting of a Koala at the woodland property.

Sandy Hume and Carolyn Larcombe, part of the family who owns Wandiyali~Environa Wildlife Sanctuary, were scanning through photos taken on a motion-sensor camera when they came across the unmistakable image of a small Koala walking along the ground near the boundary. It’s a significant find, given how rare Koalas are in the region.

Carolyn, who grew up with her siblings on the family property, was surprised by the furry visitor.

“It’s such a thrill – this is the first visual record of a Koala at Wandiyali in our lifetimes,” she said. “There was a single audio recording from three years ago which we suspect was a Koala, but this is the first time we’ve actually seen one.”

Located at the intersection of Ngambri, Ngarigo, Ngunnawal and Ngunawal country, Wandiyali protects a 300-hectare area of critically endangered box gum grassy woodland habitat, home to threatened species including the Speckled Warbler, Pink-tailed Worm Lizard and Gang-gang Cockatoo.

While it’s the first Koala seen in on sanctuary so far, Wandiyali has some of the species’ preferred food trees, such as broad-leaved peppermint gums and scribbly gums.

The motion sensor cameras show that the young Koala spent two nights along the southern edge of the sanctuary. David Larcombe, also one of the sanctuary’s owners, later photographed the Koala in a tree.

“One of our rangers spotted the Koala again while he was doing a regular maintenance walk. I walked over in the afternoon and was able to capture some drone footage, from a distance,” David said. “It seemed to be in good condition and was just chilling out among the gum leaves. In my wildest dreams, I never thought they would be here.”

In December 2024, the owners announced an agreement to work in collaboration with Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) to help reintroduce locally extinct species to the property. Strategic partnerships with private landholders, government groups, and pastoral companies enable AWC to extend its conservation impact across the country.

Dr Jennifer Pierson, Senior Ecologist with AWC, said the Koala sighting demonstrates the importance of preserving patches of habitat, even in areas that have been extensively modified for agriculture.

“So much of this type of grassy woodland has been lost,” Dr Pierson said. “We’re lucky that some patches remain at places like Wandiyali, and it’s critically important that these are looked after and protected.”

Under the agreement, AWC is working with the managers to develop a reintroduction strategy for a range of locally extinct native mammal species.

For more information about Wandiyali~Environa Wildlife Sanctuary, click here, and for more information on the Koala, click here.

Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) is a pragmatic, on-ground global conservation leader, conserving landscapes and providing hope for Australian wildlife. Informed by science, we deliver measurable conservation impact at scale to secure the future of our most endangered species and their habitats, including restoring degraded landscapes where necessary.

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