A previously hidden population of koalas has been discovered in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales, thanks to the use of thermal drones. This finding suggests that the koala population in the region is larger than previously believed. Eight koalas were spotted in Avonside, located east of Jindabyne, marking a significant discovery for local wildlife officials.

Local Land Services officer Kirrily Gould noted, "It's become more than just a couple of animals sighted in one location. To have another population of koalas that's well separated from that area is significant." The initial drone survey in July 2024 identified two koalas, while a follow-up in July 2025 revealed eight more. The surveys covered five grids, each measuring 56 hectares, in the Avonside area. Koalas were also observed in more familiar locations, such as the Coornartha Nature Reserve.

Historically, there were records of koala scat in Avonside, along with anecdotal reports from landholders. Audio monitoring had previously detected male koala calls in the area. Following a bushfire in 2003, concerns arose about the survival of koalas in the region, leading to a belief that the population had significantly declined. Gould remarked, "Since then there have been very few koala sightings, and I think there was a belief that the population had largely been lost. Where we found these new clusters of koala occupancy, landholders didn't know they had koalas on their property."

Sally Miller, a senior project officer with the New South Wales government's koala strategy, expressed enthusiasm about the discovery. "It's showing a really slow but positive increase in recovery following those fires. This is the first survey that has picked up anywhere near this number. To have the video footage from the thermal drones is the best evidence that we've had yet of a low-density, surviving population in that Avonside neighborhood."

Following the drone sightings, volunteers from Landcare and Snowy Mountains Wildlife Rescue collected koala scat in the area. This scat will be tested for chlamydia, a disease that poses a significant threat to koala populations by causing infertility and decline. Gould emphasized the importance of this population, stating, "If this population is disease-free, it makes it a vitally important part of the koala puzzle on the Southern Tablelands because of their isolated nature. It means that they won't pick up disease from other populations or they won't spread the disease. It will be a nice little satellite population that will safeguard koalas' future."

The terrain in Avonside is steep and isolated, making it an ideal habitat for koalas but challenging for researchers and landholders to navigate. Gould suspects that more koalas may inhabit the area and plans to continue monitoring the population. Local Land Services has urged private landholders to assist in protecting koala habitats by managing weeds and pests and implementing bushfire management strategies on their properties.

Landholders are also invited to participate in an audio monitoring survey called Koala Karaoke, scheduled for November. Gould explained, "Landholders just put a plastic recording device out in the bush for 14 nights, bring it back to us and we analyze the data. That will help us discover more about the extent of the koala population across the Southern Tablelands."

Miller added that finding more koalas is crucial for conservation efforts. "We are looking to learn more about the koala population so we can protect and restore their habitat to expand their population," she said.