Australia's beloved koalas under threat - world news source

There is no short­age of postcards fea­tur­ing lovable koalas in Aus­tralia, but it is much more un­usu­al to catch sight of the marsu­pials in the wild. The sit­uation could de­te­riorate fur­ther, say sci­entists. The number of koalas – a symbol of Aus­tralia – is falling. A sen­ate committee is due to report on whether they should be treated as an en­dan­gered species.

Stud­ies suggest there are 50,000 to 100,000 koalas left. "In fact, it is hard to say with any certainty, the funds not be­ing avail­able to carry out extensive research," says Alistair Melzer, an ecol­o­gist at Central Queens­land Uni­versity. On the Gold Coast the popu­lation is thought to have fall­en by 80% in 20 years.

Sev­eral factors are to blame, above all the loss of habi­tat due to urban devel­op­ment and farm­ing. The koala needs large ar­eas of eucalyptus for­est for food and shelter. Only certain tree species suit its needs, growing on good-quality soil. "Unfortunately the best places for the koala are also best for humans, namely fertile land," Melzer explains. When their habi­tat shrinks and they are forced to live close to towns, koalas of­ten get knocked over by cars or attacked by dogs.

Koalas also suffer from heatwaves and drought, which are likely to become more frequent with cli­mate change. They do not like high tempera­tures and need the mois­ture of dense fo­liage.

"If the cli­mate changes these ani­mals don't migrate, so popu­lation groups won't move south, where it's cool­er. They'll die," Melzer warns.

Koalas are also suffering from an en­dem­ic strain of the sexually transmitted disease chlamydia. "This comes on top of the oth­er pressures already af­fecting the popu­lation," says Math­ew Crowther, a biol­o­gist at Sydney Uni­versity.

Al­though sci­entists agree on the risks, koalas are still not recognised as an en­dan­gered species by the fed­eral govern­ment. Individual states have their own classifications. In New South Wales, for in­stance, koalas are listed as "rare and vulnerable", where­as in Queens­land their status depends on the location.

Koala campaigners say a national classification is essential, partic­ularly if it enables the koala's habi­tat to be pro­tected from prop­erty devel­op­ment.

This story orig­inally appeared in Le Monde.

Source: The Guardian Image 1 of 1gallery

Scientists are uncertain about the numbers of koalas. Photograph: John Giustina/Getty Images

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