As koala rescuers we are constantly seeing the repercussions to habitat loss and land clearing. Often attending displaced and injured koalas hit by cars or attacked by dogs trying to find a home.

The land clearing laws need to change just because a development was approved years ago doesn’t mean they can destroy prime habitat now in a already struggling species habitat.

Over the past few weeks I have watched prime habitat be destroyed with the trees being cut down and koalas still in trees next to them and trapped in the clearing zone between a major road.

We already know they are predicted to be extinct by 2050 yet we continually demolish habitat of healthy koala populations.

There is no point planting trees after the clearing as food trees take 5-10 years to be a viable food source and the koalas have probably been kicked out and deceased in the process.

We need to be proactive not reactive.

Better laws to prevent development

Better spotter catcher laws 

Better animal protection and conservation

Better planning around development and more green spaces kept allowing safe corridors between habitats and less fragmentation 

It’s time to change now or the only koalas you will see will be in documentaries on TV and in zoos until the genetic pool dies off and they too become extinct.