Koalas heading towards extinction by 2050 in New South Wales, Australia: Report

Koalas will become extinct by 2050 in New South Wales if Australian government did t intervene in protecting ir habitat, a year-long inquiry has said on Wednesday, July 1.

Stating that government’s estimate of 36,000 koalas in state is outdated and totally unreliable, committee urged  government to address threats related to ir survival. 

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report found that habitat loss remains to be biggest threat to species survival in New South Wales adding that a surge in logging, mining and or activities have resulted in loss of habitat.

It also emphasised that Koalas lost much of ir habitat by bushfires that engulfed Australia in 2019-20. As per committee researchers, with an estimated 24% of koala habitat on public land had been affected while in some areas, as much as 81% of habitat had been burnt.

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Climate change 

In addition to habit loss due to wildfires, researchers also pointed out that climate change was exacerbating severity of threats like drought and fires. refore, study urged government to revise its policies to protect land of koalas. Citing an example, committee said that once-thriving koala population in NSW Pilliga region was likely extinct even before bushfires hit.

“Given scale of loss as a result of fires to many significant local populations, committee believes koala will become extinct in New South Wales well before 2050 and that urgent government intervention is required to protect ir habitat and address all or threats to ir ongoing survival,” report read

It also highlighted that fragmentation and habitat loss majorly accounted for reduction in a number of endangered species. Moreover, committee made 42 recommendations to protect animals -- including government's urgency to prioritise protection of koala habitat corridors and giving more incentive to farmers who save ir land, amongst ors.

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