Hundreds of koalas are potentially being killed on Kangaroo Island as loggers clear their habitat. The privately-owned blue gum plantations are home to many koalas and other native species. These populations were devastated during the Black Summer bushfires.

Kangaroo Island Wildlife Network volunteers (alongside other local wildlife groups) have rescued dozens of maimed koalas who were injured during the logging operations. We are calling on the South Australian government to temporarily pause the logging while a humane, strategic plan can be put in place to protect the welfare of the koalas and the other species that reside in these trees.

We have been reporting these deaths and injuries to the relevant government bodies but have not received a satisfactory response. The bushland that surrounds these plantations is still recovering from the fires and is not able to support the influx of koalas that will come from the felled plantations. We have known this would happen for four years and there is still no Koala Management Plan for Kangaroo Island from the state government.

As habitat loss and disease continue to plague mainland koala populations, scientists have already signalled Kangaroo Island’s koalas as the potential “saviour of the species”. The importance of this isolated island population, as we face potential extinction of Australia’s national icon on the mainland, can’t be undervalued.

Our volunteers poured their heart and soul into caring for the wildlife affected by the bushfires, we have been lobbying all relevant industry bodies for years to prevent this ecological disaster from taking place. Now it is our volunteers who are rescuing seriously injured koalas from the plantations and watching others starve.

We are heartbroken and tired, we need help.

Please add your name to the petition if you support a temporary pause on logging while a humane, strategic plan is put in place.

A Note on Donations:
The donate button on this petition is generated automatically by change.org and they use these funds to then advertise this petition.

Our goal is to promote awareness of this issue, not to fundraise. Any donations made to the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Network will be spent on the care of rescued wildlife. To donate directly to our organisation, please head to our website: https://www.kiwildlifenetwork.com/