If you’ve ever driven through the bush or along the highways of Australia, you’ll know that sharing the road with our unique wildlife is part and parcel of Australian life. But those roads have become a deadly obstacle for one of our most beloved icons—the koala.
With koala populations plummeting by up to 60 per cent in the past quarter-century, and the devastation of the 2019–2020 Black Summer bushfires still fresh in our minds, it’s clear that urgent action is needed.
Now, in a move hailed as ‘about time’ by locals and conservationists alike, Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW) has rolled out a clever new device designed to give koalas—and hopefully other native critters—a fighting chance.
Koalas, already classified as endangered, face threats from every direction. Habitat loss due to deforestation, disease, and the ever-present danger of cars has all contributed to their decline.
The Black Summer bushfires alone wiped out an estimated 6,382 koalas in New South Wales. And while we can’t turn back the clock, we can undoubtedly change how we share our roads.
Enter the Fauna Escape Hatch: a simple yet ingenious solution that could make a difference for our furry friends.
Think of it as a one-way door for wildlife. Now installed at eight key locations along the Hume Highway—including Wilton, Nepean Bridge, and Moolgun Creek Bridge—these hatches are designed to let koalas and other animals escape from the roadside and return to safety, but not wander back onto the tarmac.
The secret? Angled aluminium or stainless-steel prongs that allow animals to push through from one side, but block them from re-entering the danger zone.
Koalas’ natural behaviour inspires the design—they’re more likely to push under an obstacle than try to climb over it.
When paired with koala exclusion fencing and timber pole structures, these hatches add a layer of protection and can even be retrofitted to existing infrastructure.
The Fauna Escape Hatch isn’t a standalone fix. It’s part of a broader, multi-layered strategy that includes dedicated wildlife crossing points, underpasses, and fencing to keep animals off the roads in the first place.
TfNSW is already eyeing other high-priority koala habitats for future installations, such as Deadmans Creek on Heathcote Road and Appin Road in southwest Sydney, with plans to expand across the state.
A spokesperson for TfNSW explained, ‘We are examining how fauna escape hatches can be applied in other areas where there is high koala activity.’
‘They will form part of several initiatives, including koala protection fencing, poles, three koala underpasses and signs to increase driver awareness.’
This isn’t just a feel-good story—it’s backed by science. The Fauna Escape Hatch was initially developed by Endeavour Veterinary Ecology and put through its paces in a 12-month field trial in Toorbul, Queensland.
As part of an existing monitoring program, 85 wild koalas were tracked, and the results were impressive: the hatches proved to be an effective alternative to other roadside escape solutions, reducing the risk of vehicle collisions and saving lives.
The trial’s success has sparked interest from government agencies and conservation groups across Australia, with many calling for the hatches to be rolled out ‘everywhere’.
While these new hatches are a fantastic step forward, there’s still plenty we can all do to help. If you’re driving through koala country, watch for wildlife signs, especially at dawn and dusk, when animals are most active.
Slow down, stay alert, and report any injured animals to local wildlife rescue groups.
And if you’re passionate about protecting our native species, consider supporting organisations that work on the ground to safeguard koala habitats and lobby for stronger environmental protections.
Have you spotted any of these new Fauna Escape Hatches in your travels? Do you think enough is being done to protect our wildlife on the roads? What other ideas do you have for keeping our koalas safe? Share your thoughts and stories in the comments below.
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