In Greenslopes, a suburb defined by major health facilities, busy arterial roads and urban parkland, koalas are not the first thing that come to mind. Yet publicly available sighting records show a citizen sighting has been reported in the suburb and more recently, others in the surrounding suburbs.
Several of those records appear in citizen-science databases, where residents log wildlife sightings with dates, locations and often photographs. The iNaturalist place page for Greenslopes includes a 2024 koala observation among the species recorded locally. It also records several more recent observations in neighbouring suburbs. These platforms do not measure population size, and multiple entries may relate to the same animal. However, they do provide verifiable evidence that koalas have been observed within the broader inner-south landscape.
Queensland’s environment department also runs an official reporting pathway via the QWildlife app and publishes an interactive dashboard of reported koala sightings. The department’s guidance makes it clear that sightings are not a population survey, and that multiple reports may relate to the same animal. However, reporting helps build a clearer picture of when and where koalas are seen.
If you want the government reporting channel, start at Queensland Government — Report koala sightings and read the caveats at QWildlife FAQs.
Reading the maps without overreading them
It’s important not to over-interpret a handful of pins on a map. A koala record in a suburb doesn’t automatically mean koalas are “back” in a stable, breeding way, especially in highly built-up areas.
What these databases can do well is show where people are encountering koalas, and where repeated reports might justify extra attention: safer road design, habitat restoration, or community education.
This context matters because koalas in Queensland, New South Wales, and the ACT are listed as Endangered under national environmental law. That listing reflects broad, long-term pressures (especially habitat loss and fragmentation) and is a reminder that even small local actions that reduce injury and mortality can be meaningful.
What makes a suburb risky for koalas?
Across urban Australia, two commonly cited risks for koalas moving through suburbs are vehicle strikes and dog attacks. In the inner-south, where roads are frequent and traffic volumes can be high, managing collision risk is a practical issue — not an abstract one.
Brisbane has already debated measures such as fencing and speed limits in other koala-adjacent areas. For example, koala fencing and speed limit changes on Boundary Road and the public discussion around whether those measures are sufficient.
There is also local government documentation showing that “where strikes happen” can be mapped and assessed. A Brisbane City Council tabled paper (PDF) examines koala roadkill mitigation options around a reserve area and includes analysis intended to inform decision-making.
The practical implication is straightforward in Greenslopes. If koalas are recorded in the wider inner-south, some will occasionally travel on the ground between trees, which can bring them into contact with roads, especially near connected green spaces and drainage lines.
What’s happening locally: habitat work along
Greenslopes sits within the Norman Creek catchment, which includes pockets of parkland and creekside vegetation that support a range of wildlife. One active on-the-ground effort is habitat restoration at Greenslopes DCP, led by theNorman Creek Catchment Coordinating Committee. Their project pages describe weed control and revegetation activities to improve local habitat conditions.
It’s not necessary to label every restoration site “koala habitat” to recognise the broader benefit: healthier, better-vegetated creek corridors can improve urban biodiversity and provide more shade and canopy connectivity for many native species.
What Greenslopes locals can do
You don’t need specialist gear to contribute. The most useful steps are the ones that improve records and reduce risk.
1) Report sightings through trusted channels.
If you see a koala, lodge a report via Queensland Government — Report koala sightings or add a record to iNaturalist — Greenslopes. Where safe and appropriate, a photo can help verification — but don’t put yourself (or the animal) at risk for it.
2) Support local habitat restoration.
If you have time to spare, keep an eye on volunteer opportunities. Weed removal and planting days are practical, local ways to strengthen habitat quality.
3) Add native plants at home if you have space.
Backyard trees and shrubs can help connect habitat patches. Brisbane’s Free Native Plants program is a low-cost way to start, especially for renters and small gardens.
4) Drive cautiously near green spaces at night and early morning.
If you’re travelling near parks or creek lines after dark or around dawn, slow down and scan the road edges. Cautious driving reduces collision risk for all wildlife, not just koalas.
Greenslopes doesn’t need to become a wilderness to play a role in conservation. But the publicly available data suggests it’s worth paying attention. Recording sightings, restoring habitat where possible, and reducing avoidable risks are all within reach for an ordinary suburb.
Published 12-Feb-2026
