The Australian Government has upgraded the threat level of the country’s Koala Population to ‘Endangered’.
The species was previously considered as ‘Vulnerable’ in the ACT, New South Wales and Queensland but that was upgraded overnight amid decreasing population numbers, driven largely by ongoing droughts, intensifying bushfire seasons nd the cumulative impacts of disease, urbanisation and habitat loss over the past twenty years.
Australia’s Environment Minister, Sussan Ley said the upgraded classification will help to better protect the much loved creatures.
“The new listing highlights the challenges the species is facing and ensures that all assessments under the Act will be considered not only in terms of their local impacts, but with regard to the wider koala population. ”
The announcement comes after the Federal Government also announced a $50 million commitment to Koala conservation and protection earlier this year.
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