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The second National Koala Conference is set to focus on all aspects of koala conservation and rehabilitation.
The conference is on from June 2 until June 4 at Rydges in Port Macquarie. The first national conference was in Port Macquarie in 2013.
The clinical director of Port Macquarie Koala Hospital Cheyne Flanagan said experts from all over Australia will attend the conference as well as international attendees from France, Hong Kong and Switzerland.
There will be presentations on current research into diseases, drugs, translocation, regional koala projects, future predictions, behaviour and legislation.
Ms Flanagan said it was a space for experts to share ideas, discover the latest research findings and network.
“A lot of good research collaborations happen at conferences when people do these presentations and then they get together at lunch to chat about ways to improve things,” she said.
Thor Aaso from the The Port Macquarie-Hastings Council will present on issues which include training dogs to avoid and using the koala app.
The Port Macquarie-Hastings Council developed the app which is a GPS enabled tool alongside the Koala Hospital to help monitor different koala populations across the region .
Mr Aaso said since its implementation the app has provided an opportunity for both Koala Hospital and council staff to hone in on particular areas where koala numbers are in decline.
He said the decline of koala numbers is due to particular issues including land clearing, road strikes and dog attacks.
Mr Aaso said the council is open to passing on the app to other locations in Australia.
The council is working in the both short and long term to reduce the number of road strikes which occur on Ocean Road.
Mr Aaso said it is a challenge due to the high volume of traffic on the road which is only set to increase in the future.
For more information visit www.koalahospital.org.au/2nd-national-koala-conference-2
