RSPCA Qld’s Wildlife Department has praised Queenslanders who took part in last weekend’s Koala Count. However Wildlife Coordinator Janet Gamble said the numbers of koalas spotted were disappointing and proved that we should have very real concerns for the animal’s future.
“We had an enormous amount of publicity this year and scores of people actually devoted their entire weekend to spotting. However the numbers were well down, (106 to 122 in Queensland), so when you consider the increased numbers of would be spotters this is a real wake up call.”
On the 10th November, scientists from around Australia will meet to decide on the Australian Koala Foundation’s nomination of the koala as ‘vulnerable’ under the EPBC Act, Australia’s threatened species legislation. If the Koala is protected then it will mean that all developments in koala habitat will have federal oversight, something that hasn’t happened since white settlement 200 years ago.
“We’d urge you to write to the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and the Environment Minister Peter Garret and demand that they protect our national icon and change the Federal listing of the Koala to “vulnerable to extinction,” continued Ms Gamble. “In the meantime we’d like to sincerely thank everyone who took part in the survey. Obviously the results aren’t conclusive but at least they give us an indication as to how the population is standing up to increasing development and loss of habitat. The answer unfortunately is “very badly.”
To view a comprehensive list of all the reported sightings please click here. To view a map of the sightings please click here.
The Redlands Koala phone in survey report is also available here.
Thank you to all those who participated; we had a great response.
