The decline of Koalas

Imagine a world without koalas. This could be the reality with a NSW parliamentary inquiry finding that, given the severe loss of koala populations across New South Wales as a result of the 2019-2020 bushfires and without urgent government intervention to protect habitat and address all other threats, the koala will become extinct in New South Wales before 2050.

The inquiry found this was due to fragmentation and loss of habitat which poses the most serious threat to koala populations in New South Wales. In addition, logging in public native forests in New South Wales has reduced the maturity, size and availability of preferred feed and roost trees.

The top recommendation of the inquiry was that the NSW Government work with the NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer to determine the most appropriate method of surveying koala numbers, and that this method become the standard across all government authorities. The government’s response was to only note the recommendation. They stated a one method approach has limitations has it might not always be appropriate in all certain cases so an adaptive monitoring approach allowing more flexibility was needed.

Jean Shaw Reserve, Hawks Nest

Campbelltown Koalas

The Campbelltown area in south-western Sydney contains the only population of koalas listed in NSW  as likely to be growing. This is an important population as they are free of chlamydia. This makes it vital that the chlamydia-free Campbelltown koalas survive as a reservoir of healthy animals from which to regenerate declining populations (Total Environment Centre (Total Environment Centre).

However, all is not well for the Campbelltown Koalas if the plans for property developer Lendlease go ahead. The developer has begun clearing trees at Gilead, in the Macarthur region, after Campbelltown Council gave it the green light to begin work on the first stage of its 1,700-home Figtree Hill estate last month. Residents and environmental experts have objected to the project, claiming it would further fragment the habitat of one of the healthiest koala colonies in New South Wales (ABC News).

Tea Gardens/Hawks Nest Koalas

Koalas been reported as occurring in Hawks Nest and Tea Gardens and in the immediate vicinity of these towns in the Great Lakes Local Government Area. The population extends in the south-east to the Yacaaba Headland and in the south-west to the peninsula west of Winda Woppa. Movement of Koalas between Tea Gardens and Hawks Nest occurs, but at very low frequency. In 1989 the population contained at least 21 individuals. In 1998 the population had fallen to about 12, 2 - 3 in the vicinity of Tea Gardens and the remainder in Hawks Nest.

The decline of the Koala population has been attributed to continuing sub-division and associated clearing of food and habitat trees, road mortality and attacks by dogs. At least 10 Koalas were killed in 1997 and 1998. The population has been reduced to such a critical level that it is in immediate danger of extinction has been listed as an Endangered Population under the Threatened Species Conservation Act (Office of Environment and Heritage).

The Myall Koala and Environment Group say Koala sightings in Tea Gardens and Hawks Nest are at their lowest in the last 15 years and they may never recover to the levels of six years ago. This has been attributed to new large housing developments in Tea Gardens, reducing the number of wildlife corridors in and out of the town. Developments have included housing in Palm Lake Resort and the removal of hundreds of swamp mahoganies to create Asset Protection Zones in residential, commercial or industrial areas. (News of the Area).

Jean Shaw Koala Reserve at Hawks Nest

Unfortunately, all the current evidence points to Koalas becoming extinct by 2050 if the continued rate of habitat construction continues. The coastal eucalypt woodlands that is prime koala habitat, are also areas that people like to live. While this may pose a challenge in their protection, if there is stronger effort by the government and a strong enough willingness from the community, there could still be a chance. This could perhaps involve actions such as the declaration of more reserves where there are koala populations, the planting of more eucalyptus trees and no logging of old growth forests.