Taronga Conservation calls for urgent funding to address emerging koala crisis

November 16, 2019

To address the emerging koala crisis resulting from recent and ongoing catastrophic bushfires, Taronga Conservation Society Australia is calling for urgent funds to help its partner, the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital.

The funding will also help Taronga’s long-term work that aims to change the trajectory of koala populations and care for any injured koalas treated at the Taronga Wildlife Hospitals.

Devastating bushfires have torn through huge areas of vital NSW koala habitat. When fires rage through forests, koalas have little defence, and often sadly perish.

With koalas already at high risk of extinction before the east coast fires ravaged their numbers, the previously dire situation is now devastating.

In the Lake Innes Nature Reserve alone, it’s estimated as many as 350 koalas have died.

Nick Boyle, Taronga’s Director of Welfare and Conservation, advises “our hearts are breaking for the affected communities, for those who have lost their lives and homes, and for the defenceless wildlife fallen victim to the earliest and worst bush fire season NSW has ever faced."

Taronga has sent emergency relief funds to the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital where their incredible vets and wildlife carers are working tirelessly to save the survivors. Taronga’s two Wildlife Hospitals and Wildlife Health teams are also on standby to offer emergency assistance when called upon.

Boyle added “pressures on the Koala were already compounding - habitat loss and land degradation, disease, highly fragmented populations, droughts and heatwaves, climate change, predation by non-native species, and urban growth.

“And now this. It’s difficult to digest but there’s only one thing to do and that’s to step quickly into action. We are in close contact with the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital and they need our help.”

Stating that the koalas in the hospital are already significantly dehydrated from the drought and that these fires are another devastating blow, Port Macquarie Hospital Director, Cheyne Flanagan stated "the bushfires in NSW have decimated already declining Koala populations. Search for those still alive is ongoing. We need your help at this critical time so we can rebuild the population into the future.”

Before this emergency, Taronga has been building its long-term strategy to identify, connect and restore habitat for priority NSW koala populations. The rehabilitation research Taronga is undertaking will improve the integration of these rescued and injured Koalas back into the wild.

Boyle concluded “once these bush fires pass, there will still be a crisis for koalas. The next couple of years will be more important than ever for the long-term future of koalas.”

To donate to Taronga’s urgent Koala Appeal, visit: www.taronga.org.au/savekoalas

18th November 2019 - Aussie Ark calls for wildlife support during bushfires

26th February 2019 - NSW Government to boost Koala population and improve national park access

11th December 2018 - Improved mapping leads to better outcomes for koala habitat

7th September 2018 - Land clearance to cause Koala extinction in NSW by 2050

18th July 2018 - Gold Coast City Council looks to boost local koala habitat

14th July 2018 - World-class koala research facility operational at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

7th July 2018 - Australian Reptile Park welcomes record koala breeding season

7th May 2018 - NSW Government announces koala reserves in attempt to reverse declining populations

19th November 2017 - Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife backs creation of new Victorian koala habitat

12th June 2017 - $3.3 million revamp for Brisbane’s Daisy Hill Koala Centre

14th February 2017 - Dreamworld backs koala conservation with new breeding program

1st October 2012 - National Zoo and Aquarium breeding program welcomes new koala

30th April 2012 - Koalas to be listed as threatened amid rapid decline

28th September 2011 - Koala inquiry calls for vulnerable status

1st August 2011 - Dreamworld highlights perilous state of koala colonies

Asking a small favour
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

The news we publish at www.ausleisure.com.au is independent, credible (we hope) and free for you to access, with no pay walls and no annoying pop-up ads.

However, as an independent publisher, can we ask for you to support us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine - if you don't already do so.

Published bi-monthly since 1997, the printed Australasian Leisure Management differs from this website in that it publishes longer, in-depth and analytical features covering aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues management.

Subscriptions cost just $90 a year.

Click here to subscribe.