SPECIES: Phascolarctos cinereus — Koala (combined populations of Qld, NSW & ACT)
CLASSIFICATION: Endangered
Where do we start when profiling the Koala for #ThreatenedThursday. Undoubtedly one of Australia's most iconic species, it now finds itself an Endangered species under the EPBC Act in Queensland, New South Wales, and the ACT. This classification reflects the serious threats facing koalas and their habitats.
Koalas can sleep up to 18–20 hours a day. Their eucalyptus diet is so low in nutrients that conserving energy is essential. While they rely heavily on eucalyptus leaves for hydration, koalas will drink from water sources during droughts or extreme heat. Each Koala has a unique 'bellow' that helps them communicate and establish territories during the breeding season.
So just why has the Koala become endangered? Habitat loss: large-scale clearing of eucalyptus forests for urban development, agriculture, and logging has drastically reduced the koala’s natural range. Bushfires: such as the 2019-2020 Black Summer, devastated millions of hectares of Koala habitat, leaving populations vulnerable. Urban threats: vehicle strikes and dog attacks are significant causes of death for koalas living near cities and towns and disease: chlamydia affects many koalas, causing infertility, blindness, and other health issues that hinder population recovery.