I discovered the work of the Phillip Island Nature Parks in 2017 during my stay on Phillip Island, in the Victoria region.

This organization actively protects the wildlife and flora of Phillip Island by combining conservation efforts with sustainable ecotourism. Here, researchers study the lifestyles of many endemic species, such as koalas, and the impacts of environmental changes.

At the Koala Conservation Centre, Daniel Kallstrom introduced us to their work. They provide a safe habitat for numerous wild koalas while allowing visitors to observe them in their natural environment without disturbing them, thanks to walkways installed among the eucalyptus trees. The studies conducted are crucial for this species, which is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Endemic to Australia, these gentle marsupials have paid a heavy price during the devastating wildfires that swept through the continent in 2020.