Stop Koalas Becoming Extinct - Ask Sussan Ley to Elevate Them To Endangered Status | IFAW.org/uk

koala populations at a tipping point – uplist koalas to Endangered now!

Take Action

The iconic koala is in crisis.

Koala numbers on Australia’s east coast are plummeting and local extinctions are occurring due to excessive land-clearing, drought, stress-related disease, car strikes, and dog attacks.

The Black Summer bushfires dealt a further devastating blow to already struggling koala populations, destroying their homes and leaving them clinging on for dear life.

Please help throw them a lifeline by joining our call to the Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley to elevate their status from Vulnerable to Endangered.

This is a koala emergency. The iconic species is at a tipping point and we cannot let them go extinct on our watch. By protecting koalas, a flagship species, we are also safe-guarding countless other animals and the places they call home.

Please act now.

Ms.

Sussan

Ley MP

Minister for the Environment, Parliament of Australia

Dear Minister Ley

I am writing to you as I am deeply concerned about the future of Australia’s iconic koalas and the places they call home.

Koalas are already living on a knife edge with numbers plummeting and local extinctions occurring due to excessive land-clearing, drought, stress-related disease, car strikes and dog attacks.

The 2019-20 bushfires struck at the heart of core koala populations and habitat, dealing a devastating blow to already struggling koala populations. With fire intensity and frequency only likely to increase due to climate change, these populations may not have the chance to recover unless urgent action is taken.

I am calling on you today to implement immediate protection measures and elevate the status of east coast koalas from Vulnerable to Endangered under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act) 1999.

The Threatened Species Scientific Committee (TSSC) has provided its advice to you that these koala populations in Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory meet the eligibility criteria for up-listing due to an overall population decline of 50% over the last 20 years with further declines projected.

The committee’s assessment concurs with conservation reviews undertaken by Biolink which formed the basis of a joint up-listing nomination by International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), WWF Australia and Humane Society International, to the TSSC in April 2020.

I am urging you to listen to the science, heed the advice of the TSSC and immediately up-list east coast koalas to Endangered. Strong concerted efforts and allocation of resources will be required across the species range to ensure critical habitat is secured, wildlife corridors are reconnected and key threats to the species are minimised.

The evidence is in. The world is watching. Please don’t let this iconic species go extinct on your watch and join the Tasmanian Tiger in the extinction hall of shame. Their future is in your hands.

Yours sincerely

First Name

Last Name

Email

Country / Region

Yes, I would like to receive news, updates on activities and on future giving opportunities. I understand that I can unsubscribe at any time.

koala populations at a tipping point – uplist koalas to Endangered now!

share this cause