Australia Adds Koalas To Endangered Species List

Koala Illustrations. (Wikimedia Commons / Till Niermann)

JAKARTA - The Australian government is considering registering the koala in three states on the east coast as an endangered species.

Australian Environment Minister Sussan Ley said the various problems that occurred in the three states made the condition of koalas complex and needed intensive treatment.

Koala populations in the states of New South Wales, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory, Canberra are threatened by deforestation and other factors. However, the forest fires in 2019 and 2020 that hit the east coast dealt a severe blow to the koala population

The animal is classified as 'vulnerable' on the government's species protection list. However, a conservation group nominated it to be listed as 'endangered' in March.

"The bushfires are the final blow, hitting the heart of an already struggling koala population and critical habitat," said Josey Sharrad of the International Fund for Animal Welfare.

An estimated one-third of koalas in New South Wales have been lost to fires, with fires also destroying a quarter of the state's koala habitat, according to a New South Wales legislative council report on the state's koala population and habitat.

Previously, experts had warned that the iconic Australian animal faced extinction by 2050 unless urgent action was taken.

To take further steps to protect koalas, the Australian Government is campaigning for a population recovery plan, as well as issuing proposals to raise the protected species protection status in all three states to 'endangered'.

Along with the proposal, Minister Ley announced an investment of A$24 million or approximately US$18 million in koala population recovery efforts, including habit restoration, population mapping and veterinary support.