Do Livestock Injure and Kill Koalas? Insights from Wildlife Hospital and Rescue Group Admissions and an Online Survey of Livestock–Koala Conflicts

Koala populations in Australia are declining due to threats such as chlamydiosis, wild dog predation and vehicle collision. In the last decade, grazing livestock emerged anecdotally a threat koala survival areas where habitat land overlap. This is first study investigating significance of livestock-inflicted injuries deaths over large spatial temporal scale. We investigated outcome, scale, frequency livestock–koala incidents via an online survey analysed admission records Queensland wildlife hospitals rescue group (Wildlife Victoria) Victoria. The results provide evidence both koalas, especially these have been confirmed by witness statements. outcomes for victims were severe with 75% mortality rate. reported was low but increasing, 72 cases (0.14% out 50,873 admissions) during 1997–2019, 59 (0.8% 7017 records) Wildlife Victoria 2007–2019. These likely be under-reported remoteness incident location, possible mis-diagnoses veterinarians reluctance farmers report them. Future research encouraged explore mechanics causes develop management strategies minimise koalas.