ifaw statement on the Federal Government’s $18M koala package

Rebecca Keeble, IFAW Oceania Regional Director said:

“We will always welcome any funding and support for koalas but we shouldn’t and we can’t wait for this research to be completed before we act.

We already know koala populations in New South Wales and Queensland are declining. We already know what is threatening our koalas - habitat destruction caused by excessive land clearing and development. Their populations suffered extensive losses during the Black Summer bushfires which has only exacerbated their plight.

As a result, there are already two nominations calling for koalas to be up-listed in status from Vulnerable to Endangered.

Koalas are on a knife-edge. They can’t wait for governments to count how many are remaining.

What is a national count going to do for koalas if we’re not addressing the core threat to their survival which is loss of habitat?

We need to go ahead with a precautionary approach and give them the protections they need now before it’s too late.

We continue to call for a moratorium on harmful activities affecting koalas and their habitat including excessive land clearing and development which are forcing koalas to live in urban areas where they face deadly encounters with cars and domestic dogs.”