Koala and Greater Glider detection report, Ray’s track coupes 905-501-0011 and 905-501-0010, East Gippsland

Surveyors: Rena Gaborov and David Caldwell

Report author: Rena Gaborov

Report Date: 14/2/17

Abstract: Two volunteers from the Goongerah Environment Centre (GECO), David Caldwell and Rena Gaborov, went spotlighting on and off the east side of Rays Track around coupes 905 501 0011 and 905-501-0010 on the 2nd February 2017. A koala was sighted in the canopy of a tree on the edge of coupe 905-501-0011. Scratch marks were also observed in other trees. The detection based zoning actions for Koalas, contained within the Planning Standards for Timber Harvesting Appendix 5, require DELWP ‘Establish a SPZ of approximately 100 ha of suitable habitat over verified resident populations or substantial populations located in isolated or unusual habitat.’ We believe it is of upmost importance an SPZ should be put in place as koalas in this area to our best knowledge are part of a rare extant population as opposed to the majority of Victorian koalas that originate from island populations. High densities of greater gliders were also found during the night.

Methods Two spotlights were used a led-lenser head torch model, H14R.2 and a 60 watt halogen spotlight. The spotlight survey followed the road for around 300 metres and then followed the south-east side of the ridge traversing the coupes in a south-easterly direction. All trees along the survey transect were searched for fauna using spotlights. Each time an arboreal mammal was seen it was recorded on a data sheet with the GPS location, time, bearing and distance to the tree the animas was in. A bearing was not taken if the coordinate of the tree was recorded. Common species; Tawny Frogmouth, Australian Owlet Nightjar, Southern Boobook and the sugar glider were not recorded during this spotlight.

When the identity of a koala was confirmed a picture was taken using a Cannon Power Shot SX710HS and the tree was recorded and checked for scratch marks the next two gums were also checked for scratch marks and pictures of any possible scratch marks were taken.

Results:

A koala was located in what was believed (but not confirmed) to be the canopy of a Mountain Gum Eucalyptus dalrympleana at GPS location 55 H 659697 5898813 (GDA 94) (figure 1). The tree was at least 30m high.

Figure 1 Koala recorded in gum at Rays Track at scheduled coupe 905-501-0011.

Different aged scratch marks were observed on the tree the Koala was seen in (figure 2). Two more gum trees close by were checked and also appeared to have koala scratch marks (figure 3). No more trees were checked due to a lack of time and light. Table 1 contains the coordinates for these features.

Figure 2 (a) above and (b) right, scratch marks on the trunk of the tree the koala was recorded in. The scratches are different ages with the ones in image a appearing older than image b.

Figure 3 Probable koala scratch marks in trees on Rays Track at the scheduled logging coupe border 905-501-0011

Table 1 Location of koala and scratch trees in scheduled coupe 905-501-0011 on Ray’s Track, Dellicknora.

Feature Coordinate Location Koala tree 55 H 659697 5898813 Ray's Track tree with scratch marks 2 55 H 659752 5898914 Ray's Track tree with scratch marks 3 55 H 659816 5898954 Ray's Track

9 greater gliders were recorded on the spotlight both on the road and in the forest of the coupes. The results of the spotlight can be seen in table 2. A well used yellow-bellied glider feed tree was also located at 55 H 6598863 5898805. A map is provided in the appendix.

Table 2 Spotlight results for 2/2/2017 at Rays Track scheduled coupes 905-501-0011 and 905-501-0010. * 2 records could have been same individual, YBG = yellow-bellied glider.

Species Number of ind. Location in GDA 94 bearing distance (m) time greater glider 1 55 H 659607 5898548 30 20 10:38 koala 1 55 H 659697 5898813 Na. 0 11:24 greater glider 1 55 H 659721 5898893 314 15 11:39 greater glider (also YBG feed tree) 2 55 H 659863 5898805 Na. 0 0:15 greater glider 1 55 H 659902 5898782 100 15 0:17 greater glider* 1 55 H 660086 5898721 101 30 0:49 greater glider* 1 55 H 660116 5898677 300 20 1:28 greater glider 2 55 H 659838 5898444 160 40 2:15

Discussion Koalas are considered rare in the geographical area and few sightings have been recorded (Victorian Biodiversity Atlas, 2017). It is likely that this population is an extant mainland population that survived when most perished from mainland Victoria early last century (Martin and Handasyde, 1999). Although many introductions of island populations have been introduced successfully across Victoria in recent years, this population is far from the areas where introductions occurred. The closest release was at Murrindal on the other side of the Snowy River and 60 km in a straight line. Extant populations of Victorian mainland koalas have only been researched in the Strzelecki ranges and are important because they have genetic variability (Menkhorst, 2004). Although not researched to date it is likely that this Tingaringy population also has better genetic variability then most Victorian koalas. This population is therefore important (Martin and Handaysyde, 1999) not just in their own right, for surviving when most populations went extinct, but also for increasing the genetic variability in other populations and researching disease resistance.

In the few trees that were checked, scratch marks likely to be koalas were observed. These were also of various ages. These signs indicate trees in the area are used frequently and the individual seen is part of a resident population rather than a dispersing individual. There is large variability in the home range of koalas with some individuals occupying 20-30 hectares (Martin and Handaysyde, 1999). Due to the importance of the population in the area and the lack of knowledge about occupancy it is important that the 100 ha Special Protection Zone be implemented. Ray’s Track has already been subjected to the removal of a large number of hollow-bearing trees under the state’s ‘dangerous tree’ removal policy. The removalof these trees coupled with logging and then burning would be detrimental to the koala population living in that forest. The Victorian Koala Management Strategy (2004) states:

“Fragmentation of habitat is a serious issue for Koala conservation because of the species’ specialisation to a low-energy, low-nutrient diet that leaves little scope for increasing energy expenditure in order to travel between habitat fragments (Hume 1990).”

It would take many years for the forest to recover (if it does recover) for the koala and in that time the koala would be forced to increase its home range (which may not be possible) and it will be forced to cross more open areas leaving it vulnerable to predation.

As for the koala fragmentation is serious for the greater glider that is found at a reasonably high density in the coupe 905 501 0011. For the greater glider however this is compounded by the loss of hollow-bearing trees. Hollow-bearing trees have already been felled in greater glider and koala habitat on the ridgeline with the implementation of the ‘dangerous’ tree removal that has occurred on Ray’s Track. The greater glider was listed as vulnerable under the EPBC Act (1999) in 2016. Currently Victoria has not reviewed management for this declining species despite logging and fire being considered major threats. The loss of hollow-bearing trees is considered a threatening process under the FFG Act (1988) however instead of managing this threat the threatening process is directly threatening a threatened species through the ‘dangerous tree removal’ and then the planned logging. Species will not stop declining if threats that the government has the power stop instead continue.

The greater glider numbers recorded in the spotlight did not meet the current threshold for preserving the species habitat however this threshold has nothing to do with the management of the species for its own persistence but instead to preserve an area of abundant prey for threatened owls. In light of the recent federal government’s listing of the greater glider as Vulnerable and the preliminary recommendation of the Victorian Scientific Advisory Committee to list the species on the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act it would be sensible to adhere to the precautionary principle and retain known greater glider habitat until management for this species has been reviewed.

Summary of Recommendations

1. Implement the 100ha Special Protection Zone for the koala and remove logging coupes 905 501 0011 and 10 from the schedule

2. Preserve the hollow-bearing trees in the area for species that are dependent on them such as the threatened greater glider and the yellow-bellied glider.

3. Survey areas for significant species before management decisions that are destructive to biodiversity take place.

4. Review management of the greater glider in light of its current status.

5. Review management for the loss of hollow –bearing trees, as a major threat (logging) seems to be exempt from any preservation management of hollow-bearing trees.

6. Conduct a population study on koalas in the Tingaringy forest area.

References

Martin, R. and Handasyde, K. 1999. The Koala: Natural History, Conservation and Management. UNSW Press, Sydney.

Menkhorst, P. 2004. Victoria's Koala Management Strategy. Technical Report. Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.4451.8483 Appendix:

Map scale: 1: 4,000