OUR HIDDEN ANIMAL WELFARE CRISIS

A NEW report claims Australia is in the grip of a hidden animal welfare crisis that could see koalas wiped from existence.

Experts say tree-clearing is the country’s most serious animal welfare problem but is being largely ignored.

The startling new report by RSPCA and WWF Australia, released today, said the impact of tree-clearing across the east coast of the country is becoming more severe – and koalas are on the front line.

“The enormous extent of suffering and death caused makes tree-clearing the single greatest animal welfare crisis,” the report found.

“Yet it is largely unmonitored and unstudied, and neglected in wildlife policy and law.”

Tree-clearing rates due to urban sprawl, logging and development have more than tripled in recent years and Australia’s east coast now has the dubious honour of being one of 11 global deforestation hot spots.

“Even if the animals escape the grinding bulldozers and crashing trees, native animals face deprivation or death, crowding into remaining habitats that are already full,” WWF Australia boss Dermot O’Gorman said.

“As they search for a new home they are often hit by vehicles, attacked by other animals or tangled in fences.”

Tens of millions of wild animals suffer injuries, displacement and death every year due to the bulldozing of their forest and woodland habitats, the report revealed.

In Queensland alone, WWF Australia estimates tree-clearing kills about 34 million native mammals, birds and reptiles annually.

Between 2009 and 2014 more than 10,000 koalas were admitted to four wildlife hospitals across southeast Queensland.

Nationally, the Australian Koala Foundation believes the koala population — which is concentrated across Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, is less than 80,000.

In addition to koalas, tree-clearing victims include mammals like the feathertail glider, a range of native birds and countless reptiles and frogs.