Great Koala National Park a crucial reform
Pictures here: https://dams.wwf.org.au/resourcespace/?c=6411&k=b158cd6a3a
There is still a long road ahead to recover koala populations in New South Wales.
That's the response from the World Wide Fund for Nature-Australia to the baseline estimate, released today, that there are 274,000 koalas in the state.
"We welcome the NSW government's considerable investment to find and count koala populations. This is important information to have," said Tanya Pritchard, WWF's Senior Manager of Koala Recovery.
"However, it does not mean koala populations are increasing. New approaches like scanning with thermal drones, and an increased search effort means we're getting better at finding existing koalas.
"But make no mistake, koalas have suffered a massive decline. Millions were slaughtered and their pelts exported for the fur trade from the late 1800s and into the early 1900s.
"A study last year found 29 million hectares, or 54%, of the forests and woodlands that once existed in NSW have been destroyed since European colonisation.
"There simply isn't enough habitat so koalas end up on fences, up power poles, or even climb onto vehicles. Others are killed crossing roads or are attacked by dogs.
Everyday more hectares of koala forest are cleared in NSW and Queensland – destruction that must stop.
"Chlamydia is rife among populations – a disease that can cause infertility, blindness and death.
"But many people are working hard to turn around the decline in koalas. The announcement of the Great Koala National Park by the NSW government was a game changer.
"This will be a crucial safe haven where koalas are protected in perpetuity. As the climate warms, and some areas become too hot, koalas can shelter in the tall eucalypt forests of the Great Koala National Park.
"Bangalow Koalas has planted 500,000 trees in Northern NSW to provide food and help koalas move through the landscape. WWF funded about half those trees with help from furniture brand Koala.
"WWF is also working on an initiative to provide financial incentives for landowners who plant trees in koala areas.
"Efforts to restore koala habitat on a large scale will be crucial to WWF's aim of doubling koala numbers by 2050," Ms Pritchard said.
