Save Koalas in September
September is Save the Koala Month - an annual fundraising event organised by the Australian Koala Foundation (AKF) focused on increasing public awareness of the dangers facing koalas and raising much needed money through the sale of black fake koala noses.
Koalas are not only an Australian icon and an important part of our country's culture but a study into koalas and tourism also found they bring over $1.1 billion dollars worth of tourism into Australia each year.
Currently, there are less than 100,000 koalas left in the wild, compared to the millions that were thought to be present at the time of European settlement. Research shows that if the decline continues at this rate, koalas could completely disappear from the wild within 15 years.
According to Lauren Grover from the AKF: “Koalas face a number of threats in the wild; however the biggest threat facing koalas is habitat loss.” It is estimated that more that 4,000 koalas are killed each year as a result of habitat loss.
Koalas can be found in a variety of habitats but they prefer tall eucalyptus forests.
“Approximately 80 per cent of Australia's eucalypt forests have been decimated. Of the remaining 20 per cent almost none is protected and most occur on privately-owned land,” said Ms Grover. She added that having to live along side humans is reducing the koalas’ chances of survival.
People with koalas in their backyards or neighbourhood need to be vigilant and ensure they stay well away from them. Ms Grover made a point that: “It is imperative that Australians acknowledge that ‘koalas do not live in our backyards, we live in theirs’.”
The AKF also encourages responsible dog ownership, appropriate pool and house fencing and tree preservation.
The AKF is currently working on a number of initiatives to protect and increase the number of koalas in the wild. One of its major projects is the development of the National Koala Act. If this legislation is approved by the Federal Government, private land owners will be provided with incentives to support and maintain the trees and the overall biodiversity of their lands thus providing a place for koalas to live.
According to Ms Grover: “The Federal Government needs to step in and begin large-scale recovery. It needs to list the koala as a nationally 'vulnerable' species throughout its natural range.”
As a part of Save the Koala Month, the public is encouraged to take part in the activities organised by the AKF. “There are heaps of activities happening during September with koala supporters from all over the country getting involved to help Save the Koala. Some of these include koala-thons, koala quiz nights and koala cake stalls. Some schools and community groups are helping by raising funds for koalas through the sale of the black koala noses at their schools,” said Ms Grover.
The black koala noses can be purchased at Australian Geographic stores and online at the AKF website.
For more information about the Save the Koala Month and the conservation of koalas visit www.savethekoala.com
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