Koalas have decreased rapidly by 33% over the last twenty years and experts are now warning that they are likely to be driven to extinction.
According to Independent Australia, The National Parks Association of New South Wales reported the decline of koalas and other native wildlife.
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Koalas are found in a range of habitats, from coastal islands and tall eucalypt forests to low inland woodlands. They are mainly found in Queensland , New South Wales , Victoria and South Australia.
It is estimated they fell from 31,400 to 21,000 in the two decades from 1990–2010, and their numbers are continuing to decline in most parts of the state.
Koala watchers fear most animals died after being moved for Gold Coast development. Only 2 of 180 tagged koalas shifted by Gold Coast Council and the Qld Gov between 2008 and 2014 near Coomera were rediscovered after the relocation. https://t.co/zn6p58Vy0D via @smh
— MSM Not-a-Bot (@MSMWatchdog2013) November 6, 2018
Deforestation rates have escalated in NSW and eastern Australia is now a global deforestation hotspot.
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At a meeting with the Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk six weeks ago, a leading koala expert together with the co-ordinator of Australians for Animals Inc made the following requests:
- An emergency koala summit.
- A koala hotline to be established in the Premier’s department with staff able to response to public concerns about looming destruction of habitat; and
- An immediate investigation into the Coomera translocation program.
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