The devastating bushfires that ravaged Australia earlier this year left the country’s koala population at serious risk, with reports claiming that up to 30 percent of the species that had been living in New South Wales had perished. Now, a state parliamentary inquiry has found that koalas will be extinct in NSW before 2050 unless there is urgent government action.
The year-long inquiry, released this week, finds habitat loss remains the biggest threat to the species’ survival and that continuous logging and habitat clearing has been ongoing, despite the toll it’s taking.
“Given the scale of loss as a result of the fires to many significant local populations, the committee believes the koala will become extinct in New South Wales well before 2050 and that urgent government intervention is required to protect their habitat and address all other threats to their ongoing survival,” the report said.
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Greens MLC and committee chair, Cate Faehrmann, said the report “must be a gamechanger” for the protection of the NSW koala population.
“The report found that habitat loss and fragmentation was the biggest threat to koalas, yet at every turn we were handed evidence that showed our current laws are inadequate and facilitating the clearing of core koala habitat,” she said, per The Guardian. “The strategies and policies currently in place to protect the koala aren’t working, like the NSW Koala Strategy, which fails in ensuring enough koala habitat is protected for the different koala populations across the state.”
The report made recommendations on how to help, that included government urgently prioritising the protection of koala habitats, improved monitoring methods and increased funding for conservation groups.
Below, see all the ways you can help.
Adopt a tree to help the koala population
An estimated 8,400 koalas are thought to have perished in New South Wales alone while Kangaroo Island has lost over 50 percent of its koala population. In order to help save the species from extinction, a number of organisations are encouraging members of the public to adopt a tree, this may be a Tallowood, Forest Red Gum or Swamp Mahogany, to help provide koalas with fresh leaves to feed on.
Trees can be purchased through a number of companies including Koala Hospital in Port Macquarie, the Australian Koala Foundation and WWF Australia.
Where to donate to help animals affected by the bushfire crisis
A number of organisations are seeking vital funds to help feed, hydrate and care for injured animals affected by the bushfire crisis.
The Australian Koala Foundation
The Australian Koala Foundation (AKF) is the principal non-profit, non-government organisation dedicated to the effective management and conservation of the Koala and its habitat. Their main goals are to refine and update the Koala Habitat Atlas mapping of all wild Koala habitat and to get the Koala Protection Act enacted to ensure Koalas and their habitat are protected.
Donate to The Australian Koala Foundation
WWF Australia
The global wildlife organisation is looking for monthly or one-off donations from members of the public. Contributions will not only help to restore habitats that have been destroyed but will also put plans in place to help mitigate climate change and kickstart wildlife conservation projects post-crisis. Whether you pledge a small one-off donation or commit to monthly payments, WWF Australia will use the money to help secure the future of Australia’s wildlife.
The Petbarn Foundation
The Petbarn Foundation is offering support to organisations helping pets and wildlife affected by the bushfires.
“People who have donated to the Petbarn Foundation have helped provide care and treatment for thousands of fire-affected animals including the donation of 40 carriers to the RSPCA SA to ensure koala’s healing from burn injuries have a safe space to recover on Kangaroo Island,” Scott Charters, the Petbarn Foundation Chairperson, told marie claire Australia.
“In January, the Petbarn Foundation donated $100,000 in pet food delivering over 65,000 meals to evacuation centres and rescues. We will continue to provide more food, supplies and veterinary assistance to our partners on the frontline – this includes Vets Beyond Borders, Wires Wildlife Rescue, Animal Rescue Collective, Sydney Dingo Rescue – as recovery from this level of devastation will take time.
“It’s never been more important to support Australian pets and wildlife than it is right now.”
Donate to The Petbarn Foundation.
WIRES Wildlife Rescue
Purchase from brands giving back
Davines
Haircare label Davines partnered with the Australian Koala Foundation, a non-profit organisation dedicated to the preservation of koalas and their habitats. For the month of July, $2 from every Davines Duo Pack sold will be donated to the Australian Koala Foundation to support their reforestation project.
Thomas Sabo
Jewellery and watch designer, Thomas Sabo, pledged to donate 100 percent of the proceeds from the Limited Edition Koala Necklace and Koala Charm to WIRES.
The Body Shop
The Body Shop has released the special edition WWF Koala Headband and for each headband sold, the brand will donate $5 to WWF’s Australian Wildlife and Nature Recovery Fund. The fund aims to support impacted species and restore habitat by saving and growing two billion trees by 2030, creating safe corridors for koalas, and helping to implement fire management strategies.
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