Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L00555:body:0:p76
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L00555
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 236292–239241

the recovery of the listed Koala, the following should be avoided:
    * clearing of habitat used by Koalas for feeding and resting
    * reducing connectivity between patches of habitat used by Koalas for feeding, resting, commuting and dispersing (either by clearing of vegetation or by the erection of barriers to passage)
    * clearing of habitat used by Koalas during extreme events (heat waves, drought/fire refuge)
    * avoiding activities that will expose Koalas to additional threats (e.g. dogs, cars) in places where Koalas must use the ground to move between resting and feeding trees.

PART VI
Biology and ecology
The wide-ranging distribution of the Koala and corresponding need to understand variability of habitat in terms of vegetation associations, landscape context and climate drivers has driven many regional studies. Predictably, substantial location-dependent variation is found in studies of Koala dietary preferences and resource use, patterns of movement, reproductive biology, genetic structure, disease and threats, which in turn affect local population dynamics and persistence (see supporting documents in SPRAT).
Information presented in Part VI is intended to only provide a general overview on Koala biology and ecology relevant to the conservation and management of the Koala through a selection of location-specific examples. Koala conservation managers and decision-makers are advised to draw on the extensive literature for studies relevant to location or undertake further research/surveys where crucial data are lacking to make informed decisions for location-appropriate management of Koalas.

26. Species description
The Koala Phascolarctos cinereus (Goldfuss 1817), is the only extant member of the endemic marsupial family Phascolarctidae (Van Dyck and Strahan 2008). It is semi-arboreal, with a stocky compact body, a residual tail, and muscular limbs, with sharp claws on the fore and hind paws for gripping bark when climbing trees. All digits are clawed, except the first (equivalent of a thumb) on the hind feet (Lee and Martin 1988). It has a rounded head, with a large flat, unfurred, black nose-pad, small eyes and large, oval-shaped ears covered in longer, white-tipped fur. Its chin, chest, belly and inside limbs are covered in sparse, short, white fur, while elsewhere its fur is ash-grey to brown, short and thick (or woolly). Some individuals may also have white fur patches on their rump (Martin and Handasyde 1999).
The Koala weighs between 4 to 15 kg and is sexually dimorphic with males up to 50% larger than females (Martin and Handasyde 1990; Martin, Handasyde and Krockenburger 2008). It exhibits clinal variation, with individuals from its southern range being about twice as heavy as those from northern Australia (average of 12 kg in Victoria cf. 6.5 kg in Queensland) (Martin and Handasyde 1999). Northern Koalas also tend to have shorter, silver-grey fur, whereas those in their