Koalas are facing numerous challenges to their survival in New South Wales, Australia (NSW). Already,
koala populations have died out in entire regions, leaving the remaining communities clustered elsewhere.
Rather than investigate or address the causes of such de-population, the NSW government chose to invest in
a program that would
capture wild koalas from "high-density" areas and move - or "translocate" - them to empty ones. Predictably, this program failed. In fact,
more than half of the animals died. Around one-quarter died in just 2 days.
Instead of focusing so much on relocating koalas, the government should improve efforts to keep koalas safe from threats like deforestation, logging, human construction, and climate change. Sign the petition!Even more disturbing, the NSW government was apparently trying to keep this information under wraps. In fact, it went so far as to
not make this information public, thwarting transparency and keeping the project shrouded in mystery. As a result, numerous organizations as well as some elected leaders are
demanding answers.And we need those answers, fast. Successfully intervening to help koala populations is vitally important. These animals are already
classified as endangered in eastern Australia, including in New South Wales. In less than 4 years, from 2018 to 2021, koala populations
plummeted 30%. In some areas, they are now considered
locally extinct. They are facing a variety of threats to their survival - mostly due to human recklessness. These threats include
habitat destruction from land-clearing, construction and development, logging, and more, as well as
climate change, and devastating
fires.
Meanwhile, koalas are crucial for their ecosystems. They act as natural fertilizer with their dropping, which creates a rich, nutritious environment for plant growth. They also help control eucalyptus tree density, which in turn helps prevent worsening wildfires. They even help promote biodiversity!
Valentina Mella, a senior lecturer in animal conservation at the University of Sydney, Australia, confirmed that translocation projects are risky and require careful review first. She explained: "When you move an animal into a habitat that is considered suitable for that species but that species is not actually present, you have to ask yourself why. You have to do a really thorough investigation of why the animal is absent."
If Australia is genuinely serious about promoting koala conservation, it must prevent human destruction of the animals' habitats - not just dump them into an area where they can't survive.
As animal lovers, it's on you and I to elevate this message. The government of New South Wales, Australia must pass legislation to restrict logging, prevent habitat destruction, and fight climate change - instead of subjecting innocent koalas to deadly relocation experiments! Sign the petition!