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Koala: Status, Trends, Threats

Ongoing threats and declining population required serious action if the species is to remain healthy and secure in the wild

Document created 23 September 2009, last updated 01 May 2012

Only days after the election, the new Australian Government has been called to take action to “save the koala” (see ABC News 23 Sep 10, link below).

It is thought that before European settlement koalas numbered in the millions, and millions were killed for their fur in the 19th and early 20th century (see Endangered Species Handbook, link below).

According to the Australian Koala Foundation (link below), koala numbers may now be as low as 43,000 and declining. The main cause of this decline is former and continuing habitat loss. In the last two centuries a large proportion of the former koala range has been cleared of their forest habitat and what remains is often fragmented, so that local populations are isolated and vulnerable (see IUCN Red List). Among other major threats, thousands of koalas are killed each year in collisions with cars, as well as by dogs and cats (Australian Koala Foundation, link below). In addition koalas are now widely affected by several diseases which are also taking a toll on the population (Scientific American, 21 Sep 09, link below).

Links to external websites:

[wb1]  Scientific American - 21 Sep 09 - Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) may be one of the world's cuter critters, but that doesn't mean they have it easy. Not only have koala populations become heavily fragmented due to habitat loss, they face numerous threats that they never encoun

[wb2]  ABC News Australia - 23 Sep 10 - 'Urgent action needed' to save koalas - The new Federal Environment Minister is under pressure to deliver some form of protection for the koala

[wb3]  Australian Koala Foundation - Click to visit website

[wb4]  Endangered Species Handbook - Click to view koala information

[wb5]  IUCN Red List of Threatened Species - Click to visit the website

[wb6]  ABC News Australia - 6 Feb 11 - North coast group calls for illegal logging to stop - says the State government has been 'lying' about the illegal logging of koala habitats.

[wb7]  The Independent - 25 May 11 - Up a gum tree: Are koalas 'slipping to extinction'? - Climate change, habitat loss, STDs and human complacency threaten the survival of Australia's cuddliest creatures

[wb8]  Environment 360 - 30 APR 2012: AUSTRALIA LISTS KOALA AS THREATENED SPECIES FOR FIRST TIME - The Australian government has added the koala to the list of threatened species in parts of the country for the first time, saying the iconic species is under threat from habitat

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