Damning statistics show 281 koalas have died in the three years of construction around Brisbane’s botched Moreton Bay Rail Link.

The statistics have been released by the Department of Main Roads and Transport.

The Moreton Bay Rail Link project, currently delayed due to signalling problems, lopped trees and cleared the koala habitat. It had been one of the most significant koala habitats in southeast Queensland.

Since tagging began in March 2013, 481 koalas have been successfully tagged and monitored.

Over half of those have died.
 Wild dogs accounted for 116 of the total deaths, and are suspected of causing another 38.

Leading koala expert Professor Darryl Jones has told the Brisbane Times that relocating koalas can be an extremely dangerous and problematic process.

“Koalas know when they are not home… and they get on the ground and walk for miles, looking for where ‘home’ used to be,” he said.