Koala spotted walking along North Haven Beach reignites concerns about habitat loss

by Emma Siossian

This koala was spotted walking along North Haven Beach, on the NSW Mid North Coast.(Supplied: Sheldon Young)

The rare sight of a koala wandering along a northern New South Wales beach has delighted onlookers, but raised concerns among wildlife carers. 

Sheldon Young, who runs a café next to North Haven Beach on the state's Mid North Coast, said he and his customers saw the endangered species on Monday afternoon.  

"As we looked out onto the beach, we saw something a little bit strange. It was a koala walking along the sand, looking very mellow, very happy," he said.

"It certainly did not look distressed, and sat down on the sand.

"Koalas appearing on North Haven Beach has happened before, but not as regular as say the dolphins or the whales."

Mr Young said he and a small group of staff and visitors went down to the beach to ensure there were no dogs in the area that could pose a risk to the koala.

The koala wandered through a beach cafe at North Haven, before being taken to the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital for a check-up. (Supplied: Sheldon Young)

Then they called the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital and wildlife rescue organisation FAWNA.

"He said 'hello' to everybody and then wandered off, and went around the back of the surf club," Mr Young said.

A team from the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital arrived soon after and took the koala into care.

The koala has been named Luke, after the person who contacted the hospital about him. 

Luke the koala is now in the care of hospital staff.(Supplied: Port Macquarie Koala Hospital)

Veterinarian Shali Fischer said the koala appeared to be a relatively healthy young male but would stay in care for a few days.

"Koalas don't like being exposed and they generally like to be high in the trees, so seeing one on the beach with people around is really unusual," she said.

Dr Fischer said the koala was looking "quite well" but had some gastrointestinal issues, for which it was now being treated. 

She said the koala would be given a full health check to rule out any other health concerns before being released back into his local habitat later this week.

Loss of habitat affecting koalas

Dr Fischer said the discovery of a koala on an exposed beach was a further indication of the need to protect and increase habitat areas, through initiatives such as tree planting.

"With increased pressure on their habitats and the lack of connectivity between habitats for them, they are forced to go into very urbanised areas and there they are put under stress through cars, people, pets," she said.

"We had another koala today that was caught in a fence, so we are seeing this more and more now unfortunately."

Dr Fischer said anyone who spotted a koala in an unusual location should contact a wildlife carer.

"It's a key issue we are seeing everywhere, not just on the Mid North Coast," she said.

"These poor koalas, when they're forced into small, fragmented habitats, are more susceptible to diseases, being hit by a car and dog attacks.

"If they had more habitat they wouldn't need the koala hospital."

First published at ABC Mid North Coast, August 8, 2023