Translocate or manage onsite? Similar welfare outcomes for koalas during plantation harvest

Plantation forests are expanding globally to meet resource needs. However, conflict between plantation management and wildlife can arise at all stages of plantation production. In southern Australia, koalas ( Phascolarctos cinereus ) are particularly at risk of injury, death or displacement during harvest of Blue Gum ( Eucalyptus globulus ) plantations. Under current regulations, koalas are located and the trees they are sitting in retained while occupied, to minimise risk of koalas being injured by harvest machinery. As harvest progresses, koalas either remain in the retained trees or relocate to alternative habitat. We aimed to evaluate whether short-distance translocation improves the welfare outcomes for koalas during harvest operations. We compared the movement, survival and health of 22 koalas remaining in plantations (harvest koalas) and 21 koalas translocated into nearby native forest (translocated koalas). Each koala was fitted with a VHF/GPS collar and tracked for 3–5 months. Translocated koalas moved farther from their release location than harvest koalas that either stayed in unharvested plantation trees or moved to adjacent habitat. However, daily movement distance was similar for both groups. Change in body mass was also similar. Three translocated and two harvest adult koalas died during the study. Two of four translocated dependent young may have been abandoned, whereas all four dependent young in the harvest group survived. Ultimately, translocation did not improve the welfare outcomes for koalas within plantations under harvest relative to existing management. However, translocation may be preferable in plantations with limited availability of and connectivity to alternative habitat. • Translocated koalas had similar survival to koalas managed during tree harvest. • Change in koala body mass was consistent between management approaches. • Koalas travelled a similar distance per day under both management approaches. • Translocated koalas travelled farther from their release location. • Translocated koalas may abandon dependent young.