The number of koalas in Australia has decreased due to bushfires, deforestation, drought, disease and other threats, making the country an endangered species of koalas in Queensland, New South Wales and the area around the Australian capital. BBC.
Koalas have been among the most endangered species in these areas since 2012, and their numbers have been declining for some time, but so far no action has been taken by the government. A restoration plan has now been developed and land use applications will now be evaluated for their impact on species.
Last year, an investigation in New South Wales found that
Koalas will become extinct by 2050 if no intervention is made.
It is estimated that bushfires in the Black Summer in 2019-20 killed 5,000 koalas, affecting 24 percent of the habitat in New South Wales alone.
“Within a decade, koalas have gone from not listed to critically endangered. That’s a staggering decline. The latest decision is welcome, but it won’t stop koalas from sliding into extinction unless combined with stronger laws and incentives for landowners to protect their forests.” said Stuart Blanche, a specialist with the World Wildlife Fund in Australia.
Scientists warn that climate change will exacerbate scrub fires and droughts and reduce the quality of the animals’ eucalyptus leaf diet. Koalas are also found in South Australia and Victoria, but conservation groups say their numbers are declining across the country.
Open Image: Pixabay.com
