They are the furry faces plastered over Australian advertising, the unique eucalypt-dwelling creatures that spark such fascination in tourists and locals alike.
But although koalas are abundant on billboards, logos and kids tv, in reality our photogenic friends are at risk of extinction.
How are our koalas really doing?
Koala in Duncan, South Australia
Last century over 8 million koalas were hunted and killed, with their fur exported overseas to make hats, coats and gloves.
Today, it’s estimated there are only 80,000 koalas left in the wild. That’s just 1% of the number that were killed for their fur.
Koalas are officially listed as endangered in Queensland, New South Wales and the ACT, and they could be extinct in New South Wales before 2050.
Their homes are being bulldozed to the ground, with data out of Queensland revealing shameful levels of destruction. In 2022, the equivalent of six Brisbane CBDs of forest and woodland was cleared every day, with unsustainable beef production driving the destruction. While most farmers are good land managers, the bulldozing of nature by a minority of beef producers is the reason Australia remains a global deforestation hotspot.
Herd of livestock in outback Australia
Most of the beef is exported or sold in our major supermarkets and fast-food outlets. Woolworths, Coles and McDonalds are the major players making huge profits using their market dominance to push farmers and nature to the edge. These businesses have a massive influence on the beef industry but have so far failed to stamp out the deforestation that leaves precious animals like our koala, homeless, pushing them closer to extinction.
Without eucalypt trees to feed on, sleep in, and shelter within, our koalas cannot survive.
Our nature laws are failing koalas, with off-the-books bulldozing flattening their habitat without consequence. ACF investigators uncovered two cases in New South Wales between 2019 and 2022 that revealed the destruction of 500 hectares of habitat. That’s the size of nearly 277 Sydney Opera Houses.
That’s why we urgently need strong new nature laws with an independent EPA to enforce them. We also need supermarkets to rule deforestation out of their supply chains. In addition to deforestation, the impacts of climate change, extreme bushfires, floods and drought are pushing koalas to the brink.
We can and must take action to protect our beloved gum leaf chewing neighbours.
What can you do?
- Send a pre-filled letter to the Environment Minister demanding a strong EPA. The new national nature regulator – Environment Protection Australia (EPA) – must act on concerns brought forward by the public and stop off-the-books bulldozing.
- Add your voice to the call for Woolworths and Coles to commit to stop bulldozing nature. A food system that is good for people and nature is possible and the big supermarkets must help to create it.
- Join the 500,000+ people calling for strong nature laws.
