The Australian state of New South Wales has announced it will invest 45 million Australian dollars (210 million kuna) to increase the population of koalas, which is rapidly declining in Australia.
According to estimates by Australian authorities, there are about 43,000 koalas living in the wild today, down from ten million before European settlement of the continent in 1788.
– Koalas are a national treasure, said NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian.
– It would be an unspeakable shame not to secure their future, she emphasized.
>>>Koalas in Queensland face extinction
Habitat loss, dog attacks, car strikes, climate change, and diseases have taken a toll on one of Australia’s most recognizable animals.
Studies show that in the last 15 to 20 years, the number of koalas in New South Wales has decreased by 26 percent. In that state, the cute furry marsupials are classified as “vulnerable,” and they are nearly extinct in the rest of Australia.
The NSW government will set aside thousands of hectares of state land to preserve their natural habitat.
The funds will also be used to combat diseases affecting koalas, particularly chlamydia, which causes infertility, blindness, and death. A special hotline will be established where people can report if they spot an injured or distressed koala.
