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Welcome to the KAI Education

KAI undertakes a range of activities related to koala education and awareness. The primary focus of this website is the South East Queensland region of Australia, however some information has been provided about koalas living in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia

There are many different aspects to koala education and awareness, an individual level and that of a group, school or large organisation. Over the years we have learned to adapt our presentations to cater for all needs, both in content and length of presentation.

KAI also feels it necessary to inform the general public of the plight of this unique iconic Australia marsupial by attending as many community and environmental events as we can. The fundamental cause of the decline in koala populations is the loss and fragmentation of their habitat. We have included information on koala food tree species and a general glossary of terms in this section.

Education has been broken up into several categories, each category has specific in-depth information.

The koala is on the brink of extinction in many parts of Southeast Queensland. Each and every one of us can make a difference and ensure the survival of the koala all over its natural range. The perils they face are many and varied. KAI can provide a free koala education and awareness presentation at a date and time of your choosing.

A visually interesting and arresting PowerPoint Presentation will highlight the dangers koalas face, provide information about the koala itself, its range, food preferences and breeding cycle. In addition, simple, cost effective steps will be presented to reduce the negative impacts of motor vehicle strikes, dog attacks and disease. The presentation takes approximately 45 minutes.

Tree species are broken down into primary food trees that offer the highest levels of nutrients and the lowest amounts of phenols and tannins. Primary food trees are usually found on rich, thick soils with a higher nutrient content and greater access to water via regular rainfall. Secondary species are found in areas considered marginal, in that the soils are thin and/or are above rocky substrates with poor rainfall as well as lower levels of nutrients.

There are a lot of myths in relation to koalas and their activities. This page separates the facts from the fiction.

Koalas are one of the worlds most unique animal icons and are considered a ‘flagship species’ in Australia. It is Queensland’s faunal emblem.

Information will be provided in relation to species type, home ranges, physiology and other interesting details.

Koala-like animals probably first evolved when Australia began to drift slowly northward, gradually separating from the Antarctic land mass some 45 million years ago.  Fossils of several extinct species of koala like animals were found on the Australian continent dating back to 25 million years old. 

Australia’s native animals have always had to contend with natural disasters such a fire, drought and flood. Koalas have been predated upon by dingos, powerful owls, eagles, pythons and goannas but other dangers are a direct result of human settlement. Habitat loss and fragmentation, disease, domestic dogs and road accidents all have taken their toll on the koala.

In this section we explore these threats in the hope of gaining insight into how this may be minimised into the future.

The general public appear to remain unaware of the plight of the koala in South East Queensland in spite of the media attention it receives.

KAI generates awareness utilising a range of media options, public demonstrations and by attending community/environmental events.

We regularly submit articles into newspapers and have been filmed on local and international current affairs programs.