HELP SAVE THE KOALA

In the first half of 2012 the Federal Environment Minister listed koalas in NSW, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) as vulnerable under the  Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation  (EPBC) Act 1999.  This followed years of campaigning by people concerned with declining koala numbers.  This decline has been the result of loss of  habitat, urban expansion leading to deaths on roads and from dog attack as well as an increased prevalence of disease.

Despite this  listing koalas are still under considerable threat.  Examples of this were given in two recent  Clarence Valley Conservation Coalition posts illustrating how State Forests has little regard for the well-being of this iconic species -
   On June 14 - Logging in Core Koala Habitat in Northern NSW
   On July 11  - NSW Forestry's Destruction of Koala Habitat

Obviously much more needs to be done to have these vulnerable animals properly protected.  

Koala campaigner Pat Edwards has created an on-line petition through the Avaaz organisation.  It's called SAVE AUSTRALIA'S KOALAS.

Pat points out that campaigns like this start out small but they can grow quickly when concerned people get involved.

In her petition Pat has stated:
Koalas are a billion dollar industry to Australia, yet still rate a poor second to any development or logging activity that destroys their habitat and causes colony collapse. We urgently call on Australian governments at all levels to finally recognise the importance of koalas, not only to Australia but to the global community.


SAVE AUSTRALIA'S KOALAS Petition

Example of a Koala needing Help

  

                                                                                   Photo:  Pat Edwards

Young Koala Gumnut, who lived west of Grafton, was orphaned when his mother was killed by a dog. He was called in at 2 a.m., and at around 5 months old weighed just 450g. Right now he's at the Currumbin koala clinic, under  supervision by the Australian Wildlife Hospital, and so far is doing OK.