Koalas are endangered now, and climate change is a big reason why

[Judi Lynn]

They were already in trouble long before the Black Summer bushfires.

By Amanda Yeo on February 10, 2022



A young female koala sitting on a eucalyptus branch.

Credit: Lisa Maree Williams / Getty Images

Koalas are now officially endangered in some parts of Australia, with the country's Threatened Species Scientific Committee upgrading them from their previous vulnerable status. Nobody should be surprised by this.

The Australian government announced today that koalas in New South Wales, Queensland, and the Australian Capital Territory will be considered endangered going forward, their reassessment being part of the country's 2019-2020 bushfire response.

"The impact of prolonged drought, followed by the Black Summer bushfires, and the cumulative impacts of disease, urbanisation and habitat loss over the past 20 years have led to the advice," said Minister for the Environment Sussan Ley.

The catastrophic 2019-2020 Australian bushfires dramatically brought the plight of koalas to the fore, but the animals were already in decline long before then. The now endangered species was initially listed as vulnerable 10 years ago in 2012, with the Australian government committing to developing a recovery plan for koalas by 2014. Unfortunately, said recovery plan did not eventuate and is now more than five years overdue, with the situation only getting worse.

More:
https://mashable.com/article/koala-endangered-climate-change-australia

[JudyM]

1. Still haunted by the reports

of their screaming during the fires… poor things, subjected to the mess that grossly negligent, greedy humans have made of this beautiful planet.

[Duppers]

2. Yes, here too.

[Judi Lynn]

3. I did read a report by a couple which was approached by an injured Koala,

which came right to them, and appeared to be begging for water, which they were able to give it from their own water bottles. They were able, fortunately, to rescue the little one and take it to get help for its burns.

I share your grief, and pain learning what has happened there, too. Hoping the Australian government has enough time, resources, and goodness to make important changes to save the remaining few.

[Judi Lynn]

4. Just discovered down the page that DU'er Eugene posted an article Thursday

on the Koalas before I did. Here's the link:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1127150848

Sorry to Eugene.