How can you prevent the extinction of the koala?

Answer 1

The first thing that you can do to help save the Koala is learn about them. Spread the word to others about the need to help save them. Write letters protesting destruction of their habitat. Do not support companies that invade the Koala habitat.

Answer 2

One of the best ways for the average person to help save koalas is to give to the various organisations that protect animals, but the koala is currently not an endangered species.

Having said that, however, the koala is certainly vulnerable in some parts of Australia. In southeast Queensland, for example, where they population growth has resulted in too many housing developments, the koalas population is expected to be extinct by 2020. Here, various organisations are working to preserve koala habitats and protect them from being destroyed by urbanisation.

We can help the koalas from being endangered by practising responsible pet ownership and keeping our dogs locked up at night. Do not let pet dogs wander without supervision, as they are one of the biggest threats to koalas. In known koala areas, drive carefully, as koalas will wander across a street in their home range of eucalyptus trees without regard for oncoming traffic.

The related link below will take you to the Australian Koala Foundation, where you can learn more about protecting the species.

Answer 3

Currently koalas are not in need of help, as long as suitable habitat is left for them. Numbers have dropped to an estimated 80,000, but they are listed as a species of least concern by the IUCN.

However, having said that, koalas are at great risk in selected parts of Australia. They had become extinct in Western Australia and South Australia, but reintroduction of the koala in selected areas of these states has seen a resurgence in their population. On the other side of Australia, however, in the once koala-rich area of southeast Queensland, increased development and urban sprawl is resulting in a radical drop in numbers; conservationists fear this area may see the extinction of koalas in southeast Qld by 2020 (just as there are no longer koalas on the New South Wales central coast, where they were once abundant). Government legislation to protect koala habitats is the main way to save koalas in these areas. Restrictions and curfews on pet dogs also helps.

Although, as of 2013, koalas are not officially endangered, they are vulnerable to changes in their environment, and there are very real fears that they may become extinct in the future. To prevent this from happening, individuals need to raise awareness of the koalas' specialised habitat needs, and increase awareness of how much bushland is cut down for housing and roads.

Housing developments lead to an increase in the number of domestic dogs roaming through bushland, and dogs are one of the koalas' biggest killers. In addition, too many people allow their pets to wander unsupervised. If you are someone who lives in a known koala area, then ensure your dog is always well supervised.

Developments and land clearing also lead to more roads. Koalas have a range of home trees, and their territory is often split by roads through new urban developments. As a result, when koalas try to wander from one of their home range trees to another, they are hit by cars. If drivers slowed down through area where koalas are known to wander, there would be fewer deaths.

Answer 4

The koala has been a protected species since earlier in the twentieth century, and this action has brought it back from the brink of extinction. Koalas enjoy a quite healthy population in many parts of Australia, although currently they are listed as "vulnerable" in southeast Queensland. Koalas are a protected native species and many things are being done or trialled to prevent their becoming vulnerable in other areas.

It is up to the individual state governments in Australia to determine how koalas are best helped. Trials have been done to build special passages (as mentioned above) for koalas to travel under roadways to reach feeding grounds. For many years, the Redland Shire (now city) of southeast Queensland maintained speed limits on roads for certain seasons of the year and times of the day, to minimise the risk of koalas been hit by cars. The trials were unsuccessful, and subsequently scrapped. Other trials have seen the management of housing estates, where the keeping of domestic pets such as dogs is tightly controlled, to minimise danger to koalas. In some areas, eco-passages have been built for koalas and other native wildlife to safely cross over or under busy roadways.

Some housing developers try to "buy" government approval for large housing estates by including plans for koala hospitals to be built within their areas of planned development. Sometimes local governments will not compromise the safety of koalas with such a ridiculous scheme, and refuse approval for such housing applications. Research on koala needs is constantly being carried out, and other areas have koala and native wildlife hospitals anyway, seeing a need for such a facility with the increasing numbers of koalas being injured by cars, people or dogs.

Initially there were no koalas in Western Australia, and South Australia's population had been wiped out by the 1920s. This has now been reversed. Kangaroo Island off the coast of SA and isolated islands off Victoria's coast have actually seen an overpopulation problem due to these protected colonies. New colonies have been established in Western Australia, and the koalas are breeding quite successfully.

Despite urging by conservation groups since around 1992, Australia's federal government has not yet listed the koala as vulnerable.

The Australian Koala Foundation works actively to help preserve this iconic Australian marsupial.

See the related links below.

Answer 5

Whilst koalas are currently in no danger of extinction, not even being classified as endangered, there are some threats to their survival. The best thing the average person can do is to ensure they take responsibility for their pets, as dogs, in particular, pose the greatest threat to koalas.

Answer 6

The koala is not an endangered species at this time. They are protected by the Australian government, however.

Having said that, there are many things people can do to minimise the increasing likelihood of koalas reaching the stage of being endangered (a stage which is coming closer every day).

Although, as of 2011, koalas are not officially endangered, they are still vulnerable, and there are very real fears that they may become extinct in the future. To prevent this from happening, individuals need to raise awareness of the koalas' specialised habitat needs, and increase awareness of how much bushland is cut down for housing and roads.

Housing developments lead to an increase in the number of domestic dogs roaming through bushland, and dogs are one of the koalas' biggest killers. In addition, too many people allow their pets to wander unsupervised. If you are someone who lives in a known koala area, then ensure your dog is always well supervised.

Developments and land clearing also lead to more roads. Koalas have a range of home trees, and their territory is often split by roads through new urban developments. As a result, when koalas try to wander from one of their home range trees to another, they are hit by cars. If drivers slowed down through area where koalas are known to wander, there would be fewer deaths again.