The remarkable reappearance of Toohey Forest’s koalas

Over the last 15 years, the Toohey Forest has been overrun by koalas, despite the fact that they have been missing for over 40 years. 

In 1969, Griffith University’s Mount Gravatt campus was built inside the Toohey Forest. 

This heavy urbanisation of the forest and its surroundings, alongside the environmental recklessness of European colonies, effectively culled the local koala population. 

But about 15 years ago, Griffith students and teachers were surprised to see that the koala population had once again returned, despite the impossibility.  

Local author and Griffith University’s professor of behavioral ecology, Darryl Jones, explained this mysterious reappearance.  

“I’ve been at Griffith for more than 30 years and when I first came there was absolutely no koalas,” said Jones.

Toohey Forest - Isabella Visser, 2025.

While there are no formal records of koalas living in Toohey Forest, it is known that before European settlement, koalas were commonly seen across the eucalyptus forests of North and Southeast Queensland. 

Toohey Forest, with its abundance of eucalyptus trees and diverse wildlife, is a perfect habitat for koalas.  

So why did they disappear? 

Well, partly for the same reason that they are endangered now, urbanisation and the European colonies’ environmentally reckless tendencies like the hunting of native animals. 

With how heavily urbanised the Toohey Forest and its surrounds are, it would be impossible for koalas to get to the ecological haven without human aid. 

“There were absolutely no koalas there, that’s for sure, and then about 15 years ago the first ones were spotted,” said Jones. 

“It’s almost certain that they were put there illegally by wildlife carers who’ve picked up an injured koala, or a baby koala, from an accident on the road and raised it and then went  ‘well, why not let them go in Toohey Forest because it’s a big area, they can live there  safely.’” 

Jones said that while people are legally required to return animals to where they found them, they likely did not want to return animals to the dangerous places they were injured. 

Toohey Forest - Isabella Visser, 2025.

Under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 (Qld) which provides a framework for managing protected areas and animals, it is illegal to catch, transport or interfere with a koala unless it is in distress and in need of human assistance.

This helps to reduce the possibility of harm to both humans and koalas. 

But luckily for the koalas of Toohey Forest, this caused them to thrive.  

Jones said the koalas are doing brilliantly, with the population “breeding like crazy”.

There are joeys being born every year, and now the forest is bustling with over 50 koalas, which is huge.

“So, this is like restoring what should have been there originally, I mean honestly it was incredible, you wouldn’t have a day pass without seeing a koala when you went to uni,” said Jones.

The thriving koala population in the Toohey Forest proves a pleasant return of Australian wildlife despite environmentally harmful odds.

While this is exciting to see, it is important to remember while our local Southeast Queensland koala population heads towards extinction, both individuals and the government must employ the proper environmental safety measures so this type of reappearance may continue throughout the state. 

Isabella Visser is a recent journalism graduate who is passionate about local news, politics and the environment. Isabella has worked with Queensland Magazines and had her work published with West End Magazine. In her spare time she enjoys reading, photography and gardening.