KOALAS AT RISK OF ‘DISAPPEARING FOREVER’
KOALAS, the country’s cutest Australian icon, are now officially “endangered” in Queensland, NSW and the ACT.
Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley said the species had a higher risk of extinction as she announced the classification under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act) 1999 on Friday.
Koalas have been listed as “vulnerable” in the three regions since 2012, and without stronger protection, are now at risk of disappearing forever,” Ms Ley said.
“Today I am increasing the protection for koalas in NSW, the ACT and Queensland, listing them as endangered rather than their previous designation of vulnerable.”
Numbers of koalas have plummeted across Queensland, NSW and the ACT in recent years.
Ms Ley said prolonged drought, bushfires and the impacts of disease, urbanisation and habitat loss over the past 20 years had led to the decision to upgrade the species’ protection status.