In any given year, more than 2 million tourists visit Byron Bay and a beachside colony of koalas in the town is feeling the pressure.

The small colony lives along the popular Cape Byron Lighthouse walk.

But the word is out, sparking a frenzy among locals and tourists dubbed the "koala paparazzi" by a conservationist.

"There have been reported interactions between people and koalas, people running around with their phones trying to film the koalas when they are just trying to move from tree to tree," National Parks ranger Molly O'Neill said.

"There have been situations where people have stopped [the koala] from being able to climb the tree, just so they can get their photo or video."

Locals and visitors at Byron Bay are captivated by the local koala population. (ABC News: Elloise Farrow-Smith)

Koala carer and president of conservation group Bangalow Koalas Linda Sparrow said when the "koala paparazzi" gathered at the bottom of the trees, they put the marsupials under intense stress, which could lead to devastating illnesses.

"Retrovirus is like koala AIDS, and the trigger for it is stress," she said.

"For those koalas, there is constant stress — if they are in a tree and suddenly there's a whole lot of people making noise and people are trying to touch them. The koala can't escape."

Ms O'Neill said she understood koala spotters' enthusiasm.

"To see a koala in the wild is amazing, an incredible experience," she said.

"But it has become known that there is a population [here] … and more and more people are coming to see the koalas."

She said the koalas' health was not the only concern.

"Often these koalas are doing what they do, which is sleep most of the day tucked away in a tree, and people go looking for koalas, and the bush has been trampled," Ms O'Neill said.

To keep the camera-shy marsupials from prying eyes, NSW National Parks recently replanted the habitat under the koalas' trees and installed fencing.

Signs will soon be put in place to educate people curious about koalas.

Molly O'Neill says new signs will let visitors and locals know how to behave around koalas. (ABC News: Elloise Farrow-Smith)

Koalas edged out of Byron Bay

As the popularity of Byron Bay increases, so too does the pressure on the town's wildlife.