Koala Search and Rescue

Help save our Koalas!

We have a significant koala population here in the Redlands, but unfortunately, they are struggling to survive. While some are lost on our roads, many others are sick. Whether they are sick or injured, they need rescuing, which requires us to first locate them. Early intervention is crucial for koala conservation and rehabilitation.

Our team, Redlands Wildlife Rescue has developed the skills and equipment for rescue, and we are now looking to enhance our locating efforts with a thermal drone.

While I have obtained most of the funding through a grant, I'm looking for donations to assist with the shortfall.

With this shortfall, I can obtain a commercial licence which will enable me to fly the drone at night and with less restrictions, which is vital to a lot of our current operations.

** If I exceed my goal, all donations will be given to Wildlife Rescue Minjerribah, who do an amazing job rescuing all things Wildlife related including Koalas over on Stradbroke Island and desperately need the funding as well **

Further information for those interested:

It is crucial that when a sick, injured, or abandoned koala is reported, we act quickly. Early intervention is key, and locating the koala as soon as possible is essential for effective treatment or care. Traditionally, this has involved deploying large groups of people or continuous monitoring, both of which are extremely challenging and can lead to fatigue,

with often low success rates.

Thermal drones offer a significant advantage in this process. Recently, we had the chance to trial a thermal drone in Birkdale, where we successfully located a healthy koala perched high in a Grey Gum within just 20 minutes. Without the drone, this would have required a large team and taken hours, with no guarantee of success due to the koala’s concealed position among thick branches.