Wildfire Control

Eucalyptus have highly flammable leaves. By eating large quantities each day, koalas help reduce fire impact.

Pollination

It is believed that koalas may help pollinate plants and spread seeds when traveling between trees.

Threats to Koalas

The topics in this section are listed (to the best of our ability) from greatest to lesser threats.

Deforestation for Livestock

Cattle and sheep farming (in that order) are the two greatest drivers of deforestation in Australia.

"About 90% of native vegetation in the eastern temperate zone has been removed for agriculture, industry, transport and human habitation.[1]

About 50% of Australia’s rainforests have been cleared and the proportion of Australia covered by forest or woodland has been reduced by more than a third [1]" - Bush Heritage Australia: Land Clearing

Cats

These are another non-native/invasive species for Australia, and are known to hunt many endangered species including kiwi birds and koalas.

Disease

Chlamydia

"There are four common Koala diseases caused by the chlamydia organism: conjunctivitis which can cause blindness, pneumonia, urinary tract infections and reproductive tract infections, which can cause female infertility. The symptoms of chlamydia manifest as sore eyes, chest infections, and “wet bottom” or “dirty tail”. Chlamydia is harmless in populations with unlimited resources, but manifests in times of stress, which happens when habitat is reduced. In disease-free populations which have been moved to areas where they were not native or where there is not enough habitat to support them (such as on some islands off Victoria and Kangaroo Island in South Australia), problems with overpopulation have arisen because of this unnatural situation. Koalas also suffer from a range of cancers like leukemia and skin cancers. Click here to learn more about Koala disease and injury."  - Australia Koala Foundation: Threats to the Koala

Predators & Invasive Species

"Today the natural predators of the Koala do not make a significant impact on wild populations. They include goannas dingoes, powerful owls, wedge-tailed eagles, and pythons, all of which are most likely to prey upon juvenile Koalas."  - Australia Koala Foundation: Threats to the Koala

Cats and Foxes 

These invasive animals were brought to Australia by white settlers, and these animals have killed many native species, including koalas.  - Australia Koala Foundation: Threats to the Koala

Solutions

Habitat Protections

Support getting the Koala Protection Act enacted to ensure Koalas and their habitat are protected.

"“Every day the NSW Government is allowing the Forestry Corporation to cut down mature Koala feed trees in public forests, and farmers to bulldoze them, while their propaganda arm goes into over-drive pretending that Koalas don’t need their feed trees.

“We know that Koalas only utilise certain individuals of certain species, and that the larger those trees are the more they use them. Protecting these key trees and allowing others to mature is essential for Koala’s survival.

“If the NSW Government is sincere about saving Koalas they need to ensure thorough surveys of potential habitat before clearing or logging is allowed, and to protect any core Koala habitat found.

“For a start they can ditch their current policy that if a logger sees a Koala in a tree they just wait for it to leave before they cut its home down, Mr. Pugh said." - Save Habitat to Save Koalas 

Improve Habitat Connectivity

Connectivity can include planting/protecting native trees, creating holes in fences for wildlife, wildlife bridges or underpasses (different species may only use one or the other type of biopasses). Places with swimming pools or ponds should also ensure that fallen koalas can safely climb back out.

Pollution & Pesticide-Free Lanscapes

Support Koala Rescue & Conservation Efforts

Plant Native Plants

• Friends of the Koala: Community Native Plant Nursery Northern Rivers "your go-to nursery for native plant species in the Northern Rivers. We're on a mission to protect and boost the local koala population by promoting the growth of native eucalyptus plants they rely on for survival.

Organizations

Oceana

Australia

• The Australian Koala Foundation "(AKF) is the principal non-profit, non-government organisation dedicated to the effective management and conservation of the Koala and its habitat. Our main goals are to refine and update the Koala Habitat Atlas mapping of all wild Koala habitat and to get the Koala Protection Act enacted to ensure Koalas and their habitat are protected."

• Friends of the Koala "is the only organisation in the world that focuses on all aspects of koala conservation, to ensure their survival right now and for generations to come.
  Through habitat protection and restoration, 24/7 rescue, the East Coast’s largest Koala Hospital and ground-breaking research, we do what it takes to ensure their survival. But we need your help to save koalas."

• John Oliver Koala Chlamydia Ward at the Australia Zoo's Wildlife Hospital "With our support, the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital is giving injured wildlife a second chance. Over a twelve month period, between 9,000 and 10,000 animals are brought to the hospital for lifesaving treatment. Now, as one of the world’s largest and busiest purpose-built wildlife hospitals, we’re playing a vital role in saving Australia’s native species, one life at a time."