Come along and see the Koala Detection Dog Demo at the Black Gully Music Festival!
When: Saturday, 12 November 2022
Where: 106 Kentucky Street, Armidale - Adjacent to NERAM.
BG Festival: from 10am - 8pm
Koala Detection Dogs Demo: 1.30pm
Meet Southern New England Landcare’s Koala Team at the SNEL Tent, and learn more about local Koalas.
There will be Face Painting @ SNEL Tent: 11.30am - 1.30pm
Then, at 1.30pm, take a wander with the Koala Team to watch the exciting Koala Detection Dog Demo, with some very special canines. The demo will be located close to the off leash dog park, just behind NERAM.
Using Detection Dogs for Koala Conservation plays a crucial role to support research into koala populations. Detection Dogs are trained to locate koala “scats” (poo) to confirm areas that have been used by koalas as habitat.
By scenting for the presence of koalas, A detective Dog is able to “survey” for evidence of koala occupation in likely or suspected koala habitat for up to 6 weeks after the koala has left the area. This provides scientific evidence, known as presence/absence data that informs researchers whether the surveyed area is being occupied by koalas.
As our koalas are now endangered, there is an increasing need to gather data about koala populations and better understand what actions are needed to help protect these populations. Service providers such as Canines for Wildlife are tasked with training and deploying koala detective dogs to help identify koala habitat. The team from Canines for Wildlife also provide demonstrations help our community understand how and why koala conservation has become so important everyone. The team will be on hand to provide a public demonstration at the Black Gully Music Festival at 1.30pm.
Checkout this YouTube link to a past NTKPP event, Koala's in the Spotlight, held at UNE's Newholme Laboratory, where a team of detection dogs were put through their paces.
Other activities at the Festival include: Clothes swap, deep time walk, kid’s activities, speaker’s tent, local musicians performing throughout, visit the art galleries at the Aboriginal Keeping Place and NERAM. Food market, tree planting and more for the whole family.
The festival is free from 10am til 8pm. Parking available at Moran Reserve off Taylor Street.
So, join us at the #BlackGullyFestival on Saturday, 12 November for a day of family fun and frivolity for an event like no other. Click here for a copy of the Festival flyer.
