30% of all Australia’s remaining koalas lost in just 3 years – Newpopulation figures show a 3-year decline as high as 41% in NSW/ACT & 37% inQLD

The Australian Koala Foundation (AKF) has today release alarming figuresshowing our nation’s most loved creature is in rapid decline. Since 2018,there has been an estimated 30% decline in Koalas across Australia, withpopulations estimated to be between 32,065 – 57,920 down from 45,745 – 82,170in 2018.

AKF has invested millions of dollars and 30 years of research into thecreation of the Koala Habitat Atlas, and periodically they revise the Koalapopulation. The AKF is the first organisation to estimate Koala numbers ineach of the 128 federal electorates that have, or did have, Koalas since whitesettlement.

The numbers released show a disturbing trend:

• A 30% decline in total Koala population since 2018. NSW is worst with a 41% decline
• The Koala is now extinct in 47 electorates and only one electorate, Mayo, has more than 5000 Koalas.
• Every region across Australia saw a decline in population – there were no upward trends.
• Some regions have remaining populations estimated to be as small as just 5-10 Koalas.

Chair of the Australian Koala Foundation, Deborah Tabart OAM, said she ishoping Minister Ley will take notice of these numbers and get on with her jobof protecting the Koalas habitat.

“Each and every federal politician in these electorates should now be onnotice to protect not only the koalas in their electorate but the habitat thatremains. The good news is that in many cases there is good habitat left. Nowis the time to get into action and get them full again. That is what Koalarecovery looks like,” Deborah said.

“The terrible bushfires of 2019-20 of course contributed to this outcome,however, they are certainly not the only reason we are seeing Koalapopulations on the decline. We have witnessed a drastic decrease in inlandpopulations because of drought, heat waves, and lack of water for Koalas todrink. I have seen some landscapes that look like the moon – with dead anddying trees everywhere.”

“Land clearing is lethal to Koala populations. Over the past few years, wehave seen huge land clearance particularly across NSW and South EastQueensland, for farming, housing development and mining. We know that offsetsdon’t work and we also know that displaced koalas die. Urgent action to stopland clearing in prime Koala habitat is required if we are to save our belovednational animal from peril. We need a Koala Protection Act now which can andwill do exactly that; why won’t our political leaders just sign that intobeing?”

To view the full figures, including the percentage of remaining Koala habitatacross Australia, click here.

To view Act or Axe – Koala numbers by electorate, click here.

To find out more about the Australian Koala Foundation and Save the KoalaMonth (September) visitsavethekoala.com

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