Furry friends need help
Koalas may be the cuddly faces of Australia but on Save the Koala Day wildlife warriors are reminding Aussies that their numbers are dwindling. Koalas were classified as ‘vulnerable’ in Queensland over a decade ago. Co-owner of Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures Angela Freeman said suburban living was mostly to blame. “The simple fact is that urban development has resulted in koala habitat being lost and fragmented,” she said.
KOALAS may be the cuddly faces of Australia, but on Save the Koala Day wildlife warriors are reminding Aussies that their numbers are dwindling.
Koalas were classified as “vulnerable” in Queensland over a decade ago after their population dropped dramatically.
Co-owner of Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures Angela Freeman said suburban living was mostly to blame.
“The simple fact is that urban development has resulted in koala habitat being lost and fragmented,” she said.
“With the introduction of highways and other structures koalas have been forced to the ground where they’re vulnerable to vehicles and dog attacks. It puts a lot of stress on the animals, and just like us, they become more susceptible to diseases when they’re stressed.”
She said increasing koala numbers was a matter of statewide importance.
“We need to look at setting up other colonies of koalas elsewhere, in other suitable habitats,” she said.
“The fact of the matter is that we as a human population have changed the environment for animals.
“We can’t just jump into a time machine and fix it. We have a very finite period of time to deal with the koala situation in Queensland. Time is not on our side.”
Anyone who finds an injured koala is urged to call Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service on 1300 130 372.