Do koalas face any problems to their existence?

Answer 1

Koalas face many threats to their existence. Although they are not officially endangered, that does not mean that they are free from threats to their future existence, as in some areas of Australia koala populations are decreasing.

Man is the koala's biggest threat, causing loss of food source and habitat loss. Koalas inhabit prime land which man has decided is better used for housing developments. Not only do the koalas lose their sources of shelter and food, they are subject to dog attacks and being hit by cars as suburbia extends further outwards. A prime example of this is southeast Queensland, where koala numbers have dropped to 60% less than what they were a decade ago, entirely due to increased development - and where they now face extinction by 2020.

Koalas are territorial, and they live in complex social communities where each member has a certain number of trees within its territory. When access to these trees is cut off by new roads, the koalas will still try to cross the road, and risk being hit. Relocation of koalas is rarely successful because their territorial and social habits are largely misunderstood.

Another significant factor is predation by introduced species such as dogs and foxes. Bushfires also pose a threat to these animals.

Koalas are also subject to the disease chlamydia, which affects the koalas' fertility, and eventually leads to their death. Currently, there is no cure for this disease. In addition, koalas are susceptible to a form of leukaemia.

To learn more about threats to the koala, see the related link.