Koalas feed almost exclusively on a few preferred tree species which are of primary and secondary importance. If primary tree food species are not present or occur in low density, koalas must rely on secondary food tree species, but the number of animals per hectare is lower. The occurrence of both primary and secondary tree species varies widely on a regional, local and even a seasonal basis, meaning that koalas are unevenly distributed across their range.
Although primary and secondary food trees provide most of a koala's diet, other tree species, including non-eucalypts, also provide seasonal or supplementary food.
Koalas also require a range of other trees across their habitat for resting and shelter, particularly in extreme weather conditions. Examples of shelter trees include turpentine, cypress pine and brush box.
Koalas feed almost exclusively on a few preferred tree species.
Koala management areas
The NSW koala recovery plan (2008) identified 7 koala management areas (KMAs). These areas enable the status and recovery of koalas to be monitored regionally.
The KMAs are based on:
- landscape characteristics, particularly the geographic distribution of primary or secondary food tree species
- administrative boundaries for ease of natural resource management.
The recovery plan provided a list of koala food trees categorised as primary, secondary and supplementary for each KMA.
Within each KMA:
- habitat characteristics and threats are relatively consistent, although there are a number of local variations
- koala populations can be monitored to assess and manage short-term management issues critical for conserving koalas throughout New South Wales.
The main koala food trees in the 7 management areas
Central and Southern Tablelands
Local Land Services
- Central West
- Lachlan
Main koala food trees
Primary food tree species
- Ribbon gum E. viminalis
- River red gum E. camaldulensis
Secondary food tree species
- Candlebark E. rubida
- White box E. albens
- Eurabbie E. bicostata
- Yellow box E. melliodora
- Broad-leaved sally E. camphora
- Western grey box E. microcarpa
- Argyle apple E. cinerea
- Red box E. polyanthemos
- Maiden’s gum E. maidenii
- Large-flowered bundy E. nortonii
- Swamp gum E. ovata
- Snow gum E. pauciflora
- Bundy E. goniocalyx
- Tumbledown gum E. dealbata
- Blakely’s red gum E. blakelyi
- Brittle gum E. mannifera
- Apple-topped box E. bridgesiana
- Mountain gum E. dalrympleana
Stringybarks/supplementary species
- Red stringybark E. macrorhyncha
- Yellow stringybark E. muelleriana
Central Coast
Local Land Services
- Hawkesbury–Nepean
- Sydney Metropolitan
- Southern Rivers
Main koala food trees
Primary food tree species
- Parramatta red gum E. parramattensis
- Swamp mahogany E. robusta
- Forest red gum E. tereticornis
- Tallowwood E. microcorys
- Ribbon gum E. viminalis
- Cabbage gum E. amplifolia
Secondary food tree species
- Broad-leaved sally E. camphora
- Swamp gum E. ovata
- Fuzzy box E. conica
- Brittle gum E. praecox
- Yertchuk E. consideniana
- White-topped box E. quadrangulata
- Dwyer’s red gum E. dwyeri
- Red mahogany E. resinifera
- Slaty red gum E. glaucina
- Rudder’s box E. rudderi
- Bundy E. goniocalyx
- Large-fruited red mahogany E. scias
- Craven grey box E. largeana
- Grey gum E. punctata
- Maiden’s gum E. maidenii
- Monkey gum E. cypellocarpa
- Brittle gum E. michaeliana
- Woollybutt E. longifolia
- Western grey box E. microcarpa
- Blue box E. baueriana
- Grey box E. moluccana
- Coast grey box E. bosistoana
- E. notabilis
Stringybarks/supplementary species
- Blue-leaved stringybark E. agglomerate
- E. oblonga
- Thin-leaved stringybark E. eugenioides
- E. ralla
- White stringybark E. globoidea
- E. tenella
- Yellow stringybark E. muelleriana
- Privet-leaved stringybark E. ligustrina
- Red stringybark E. cannonii
- Brown stringybark E. capitellata
- E. prominula
- Heart-leaved stringybark E. camfieldii
- Narrow-leaved stringybark E. sparsifolia
- E. bensonii
- E. imitans
- E. blaxlandii
Far West and South West
Local Land Services
- Murray
- Murrumbidgee
- Lower Murray–Darling
- Western
Main koala food trees
Primary food tree species
- River red gum E. camaldulensis
- Coolabah E. coolabah
Secondary food tree species
- Bimble box E. populnea
- Tumbledown gum E. dealbata
- Western grey box E. microcarpa
- Blakeley’s red gum E. blakelyi
- Yellow box E. melliodora
- Black box E. largiflorens
Stringybarks/supplementary species
- Red stringybark E. macrorhyncha
North Coast
Local Land Services
- Hunter–Central Rivers
- Northern Rivers
Main koala food trees
Primary food tree species
- Tallowwood Eucalyptus microcorys
- Parramatta red gum E. parramattensis
- Forest red gum E. tereticornis
- Orange gum E. bancroftii
- Swamp mahogany E. robusta
- Cabbage gum E. amplifolia
Secondary food tree species
- Narrow-leaved red gum E. seeana
- Craven grey box E. largeana
- Slaty red gum E. glaucina
- Grey gum E. biturbinata
- Small-fruited grey gum E. propinqua
- Large-fruited grey gum E. canaliculata
- Red mahogany E. resinifera
- Steel box E. rummeryi
- Mountain mahogany E. notabilis
- Rudder’s box E. rudderi
- Grey box E. moluccana
- White-topped box E. quadrangulata
- Yellow box E. melliodora
Stringybarks/supplementary species
- Stringybark E. tindaliae
- Blue-leaved stringybark E. agglomerata
- Thin-leaved stringybark E. eugenioides
- Diehard stringybark E. cameronii
- White stringybark E. globoidea
Northern Tablelands
Local Land Services
- Hunter-Central Rivers
- Namoi
Main koala food trees
Primary food tree species
- Ribbon gum E. viminalis
- Cabbage gum E. amplifolia
- Forest red gum E. tereticornis
Secondary food tree species
- Forest ribbon gum E. nobilis
- Large-flowered bundy E. nortonii
- Candlebark E. rubida
- Mountain mahogany E. notabilis
- Eurabbie E. bicostata
- New England peppermint E. nova-anglica
- Yellow box E. melliodora
- Snow gum E. pauciflora
- Monkey gum E. cypellocarpa
- Broad-leaved sally E. camphora
- Fuzzy box E. conica
- Bundy E. goniocalyx
- White box E. albens
- Apple-topped box E. bridgesiana
- Red box E. polyanthemos
- Wattle-leaved peppermint E. acaciiformis
- E. interstans
- Tenterfield woollybutt E. banksii
- Moonbi apple box E. malacoxylon
- Dwyer’s red gum E. dwyeri
- Brittle gum E. michaeliana
- Blakely’s red gum E. blakelyi
- Brittle gum E. praecox
- Mountain gum E. dalrympleana
- Orange gum E. prava
- Tumbledown gum E. dealbata
- White-topped box E. quadrangulata
- Brittle gum E. mannifera
- Grey box E. moluccana
- E. retinens
- Narrow-leaved black peppermint E. nicholii
- E. volcanica
Stringybarks/supplementary species
- Silver-topped stringybark E. laevopinea
- E. subtilior
- Yellow stringybark E. muelleriana
- Diehard stringybark E. cameronii
- Red stringybark E. macrorhyncha
- E. conjuncta
- Youman’s stringybark E. youmanii
- McKie’s stringybark E. mckieana
- E. stannicola
- Privet-leaved stringybark E. ligustrina
- E. williamsiana
- Broad-leaved stringybark E. caliginosa
South Coast
Local Land Services
- Southern Rivers
Main koala food trees
Primary food tree species
- Cabbage gum E. amplifolia
- Forest red gum E. tereticornis
- Ribbon gum E. viminalis
Secondary food tree species
- Yellow box E. melliodora
- Woollybutt E. longifolia
- Brittle gum E. mannifera
- Maiden’s gum E. maidenii
- Yertchuk E. consideniana
- Snow gum E. pauciflora
- Swamp gum E. ovata
- Red box E. polyanthemos
- Large-fruited red mahogany E. scias
- Coast grey box E. bosistoana
- Apple-topped box E. bridgesiana
- Blue box E. baueriana
- Monkey gum E. cypellocarpa
- Bastard Eurabbie E. pseudoglobulus
Stringybarks/supplementary species
- White stringybark E. globoidea
- Brown stringybark E. capitellata
- Yellow stringybark E. muelleriana
- Southern white stringybark E. yangoura
- Blue-leaved stringybark E. agglomerate
- E. baxteri
Western Slopes and Plains
Local Land Services
- Border Rivers-Gwydir
- Western
Main koala food trees
Primary food tree species
- River red gum E. camaldulensis
- Coolabah E. coolabah
Secondary food tree species
- Dirty gum E. chloroclada
- Blakely’s red gum E. blakelyi
- Bimble box E. populnea
- Apple-topped box E. bridgesiana
- Pilliga box E. pilligaensis
- Black box E. largiflorens
- Fuzzy box E. conica
- Mallee red gum E. nandewarica
- Western grey box E. microcarpa
- E. vicina
- Yellow box E. melliodora
- E. volcanica
- White box E. albens
- E. polyanthemos
- Dwyer’s red gum E. dwyeri
- Orange gum E. prava
- Tumbledown gum E. dealbata
Stringybarks/supplementary species
- E. macrorhyncha
- Narrow-leaved stringybark E. sparsifolia
Protection of native animals
All native birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals, but not including dingoes, are protected in New South Wales by the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016.