Koala expert Janine Duffy is set to present important research to delegates on the iconic Australian koala, which could potentially help to safeguard the Koala population and bring a boost to wildlife tourism.

From 5-9 October, the wildlife conference Pathways 2014 Common Futures: Integrating Human Dimensions into Fisheries and Wildlife Management will be held in Coloroado, US, by a collaboration of US universities. The event aims to set the precedent for future research, innovation, and collaboration and to further the application of research in wildlife management and training.

Koalas – a popular tourist draw for Australia – are in serious decline due to the effects of habitat destruction, domestic dog attacks, bushfires and road accidents. The Australian Koala Foundation estimates that there are less than 80,000 Koalas left in the wild, possibly as few as 43,000.

“This is a golden opportunity to highlight Australia, koalas and the role of sensitive wildlife tourism in conserving wild animals.” said Duffy.

Duffy’s research offers a low-cost, non-intrusive tool for measuring wild koala movements and population size, with her method highly cost effective and able to open up opportunities for public involvement in conservation efforts to save the vulnerable marsupial.