Australia’s iconic koala is on the brink of extinction!

‌© Friends of the Koala

Australia’s iconic koala is on the brink of extinction!

Land clearing and fragmented habitat, increasing cases of disease, dog attacks and vehicle strikes, along with the impacts of the Black Summer 2019-2020 bushfires pushed the New South Wales koala population to be uplisted to endangered status. In a bid to save Australia’s most recognisable species, the NSW government has now asked koala experts, scientists, conservationists, and the community to have their say in a review of the NSW Koala Strategy. A discussion paper is currently open for public comment until 24 May 2024.

We need your help to tell the NSW government that actions speak louder than words! Please have your say by sending a letter to the minister and asking her to take appropriate action to save koalas.

Environment Minister

Hon. Penny

Sharpe MP

NSW Legislative Assembly

Dear Minister Sharpe,

Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments on the New South Wales (NSW) Koala Strategy discussion paper. I am deeply concerned that Australia’s most recognisable international icon, the koala, is slipping toward extinction.

Koalas were already considered vulnerable to extinction before the Black Summer fires because of the historical fur trade, and the threats to their survival have been mounting ever since. Disease and the growing impact of dog attacks and car strikes have put populations at risk, but the greatest threat continues to be the ever-mounting impact of habitat loss, fragmentation, and degradation as a result of urban development, infrastructure, and the direct logging of the trees they call home. The catastrophic Black Summer fires pushed the species closer to the brink with over 6300 individuals lost in NSW alone–a conservative and alarming figure.

While recognising the NSW Labor government has provided increased funding to address some threats facing the koala, it is merely a band-aid if the root cause of their loss is not adequately addressed.

Core elements to recovery that must be addressed in the revised strategy:

1. End native forest logging and land clearing and ensure that environmental outcomes are prioritised ahead of development.

2. Ensure best practice wildlife friendly infrastructure is at the forefront of road upgrades, design and development.

3. Recognise the value of the wildlife rescue and rehabilitation sector in delivering positive animal welfare outcomes and delivering conservation impacts for local populations and help to establish a financially sustainable network of wildlife hospitals across state.

Finally, significant government investment is required to ensure the NSW Koala Strategy delivers its intended outcomes! Private sector funding should be leveraged to achieve effective implementation of the plan, while ensuring developers pay environmental levies that help to contribute to real conservation outcomes.

Sincerely,

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Australia’s iconic koala is on the brink of extinction!

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