Koalas are being considered for the endangered species list as numbers continue to dwindle. The tree-hugging bear-like marsupials have been hit hard by human habitation and the results of climate change.
The Australian government has 28 species under consideration for the list. These are species that are currently “vulnerable” but might need more protection.
Koalas have been on this vulnerable list for years. In the early 19th-century population numbers dropped because of overhunting for their fur. Logging and other human activities also contributed to this decline in numbers.
The recent Australian wildfires, which killed an estimated 5000 of the species, and ongoing habitat destruction have made their likelihood of survival even more dire in recent years.
An inquiry by the New South Wales parliament found that the koala population may become extinct in parts of Australia by 2050.
An assessment has been commissioned to determine the status of the east coast koalas. Should they be found to be endangered, protections would apply to those found in New South Wales, Queensland, and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).
Other animals included in the list for assessment are the greater glider, the Pugh’s frog, and the Blue Mountains perch, as well as Kangaroo Island’s brown-headed and white-eared honeyeater birds.
You can find the full list here.
Picture: Pixabay
