Release site assessment tool

Site suitability

Rescue site criteria

The koalas rescue site must always be the first site assessed, and should only be considered as unsuitable for release if one or more of the following applies:

There is no koala habitat present at or adjacent to the rescue site, refer to Map 1 of the Release Sites Map.
There is approved development at the rescue site of a scale that any remaining habitat will not be able to sustain the koala and the existing population.
The treating veterinarian advises, or the koala rehabilitator has reasonable concerns, that the recent incidences of vehicle and/or dog related injury and/or mortality at the rescue site are high and pose a significant risk to the koala’s chance of survival.
The treating veterinarian advises, or the koala rehabilitator has reasonable concerns, that the incidences of Chlamydial disease at the rescue site are high and pose a significant risk to the koala’s chance of survival.
As a direct result of vehicle strike or dog attack, the koala has sustained injuries requiring veterinary treatment from the rescue site twice or more within the last year.

Is the Rescue site suitable for the release of the koala? (Refer to Rescue site criteria above)
- Yes
- No

Koala fertility

Is the koala infertile?
- Yes
- No

Release approval

Has the Department of Environment and Science provided approval for the release of this koala at a site other than its rescue site?
- Yes
- No

Alternative release Site

Alternative release site criteria

An alternative release site should only be considered as unsuitable for release if one or more of the following applies:

There is no koala habitat present at or adjacent to the site, and there are no suitable tree species at the site for the koala.
There is approved development at the site of a scale that any remaining habitat will not be able to sustain the koala and the existing population.
The treating veterinarian advises, or the koala releaser has reasonable concerns, that the recent incidences of vehicle and/or dog related injury and/or mortality at the site are high and pose a significant risk to the koala’s chance of survival.
The treating veterinarian advises, or the koala rehabilitator has reasonable concerns, that the incidences of Chlamydial disease at the site are high and pose a significant risk to the koala’s chance of survival.
As a direct result of vehicle strike or dog attack, the koala has sustained injuries requiring veterinary treatment from the site twice or more within the last year.
Koalas are not known to have used the site, or once inhabited the site but no longer do and no effective management measures have been undertaken to address the cause.
The treating veterinarian advises, or the koala rehabilitator reasonably suspects, the site to be at, or close to, carrying capacity for koalas.
The site is separated from the rescue site by a major natural barrier (e.g., a river, great dividing range) or major unnatural barrier (e.g., motorway, highway, substantial housing development) that would normally prevent dispersal and genetic exchange.

Is there an alternative release site for the koala that is –
1. As close as practicable within the maximum allowed distance from the koalas rescue site (up to 10km for a koala rescued as an adult, or up to 20km for a koala rescued as an orphan); and
2. In a location shown on Map 2 of the Release Sites Map; and
3. Suitable (Refer to the ‘Alternative release site criteria’ above)
- Yes
- No
Is there an alternative release site for the koala that is –
1. As close as practicable within the maximum allowed distance from the koalas rescue site (up to 10km for a koala rescued as an adult, or up to 20km for a koala rescued as an orphan); and
2. In a location shown on Map 1 of the Release Sites Map; and
3. Suitable (Refer to the ‘Alternative release site criteria’ above)
- Yes
- No
Is there an alternative release site for the koala that is –
1. As close as practicable within the maximum allowed distance from the koalas rescue site (up to 10km for a koala rescued as an adult, or up to 20km for a koala rescued as an orphan); and
2. Suitable (Refer to the ‘Alternative release site criteria’ above)
- Yes
- No

Koala release details

Please enter your email address *
Please enter the koala’s reference number *
Please enter the date of assessment * dd/mm/yyyy
Please enter the location of the release site.*
1. Release site street address
  1. Address line 1
  2. Address line 2
  3. Town or suburb
    
    State
    
    Postcode
2. Release site coordinates
  1. Latitude In decimal degrees, e.g. -17.286001
  2. Longitude Decimal degrees, e.g. 145.573891

Release site assessment tool

Rescue site criteria

Alternative release site criteria

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