Stradbroke Island may be the epicentre of Australia's efforts to save its koalas. The Queensland Government’s re-zoning plan for Straddie threatens one of World’s last healthy koala populations. Clearing large tracts of old growth forest will reduce critical koala habitat even further. Please help us stop this plan from going forward.

Few animals embody the spirit of Australia, its vast, mysterious lands, as the koala. It is not only a key member of our country’s unique fauna but also a national emblem representing all of us -humans and animals- in our diversity and shared history. Sadly, koalas are at the cusp of extinction. A convergence of factors has led to a dramatic fall in koala populations throughout the country. Catastrophic bushfires and diseases such as chlamydia, which can affect up to 100% of some populations, have contributed to this situation. An even more permanent threat is the destruction of critical koala habitat to make way for human settlements -houses, roads, etc.-

In the face of this crisis, the Federal Government has implemented a National Recovery Plan for the Koala, which recognizes habitat loss as one of the main threats. In February this year, the koala’s international conservation status was re-listed from “Vulnerable” to “Endangered”. This is a big deal. It means we Australians should all work together to save our iconic animal.

“Straddie” (a.k.a Minjerribah or Terangeri) plays a pivotal role in the recovery of the species. For reasons not fully understood, the island’s koalas do not show clinical signs of the disease: they don’t get sick and die from chlamydia as their cousins on the mainland do. There’s only a handful of places where this occurs. One theory is that due to Straddie’s protected status and low human population, its koalas aren’t as stressed as on the mainland. And stress, we know, makes animals (including humans) prone to disease. Straddie’s koalas may thus be evolving a natural resistance to chlamydia. This makes the island a key player in Australia’s efforts to save its koalas. Why? Because disease-resistant traits from the island’s koalas could, in the future, be passed on to mainland populations, increasing their chances of survival. 

The Queensland Government’s plan to turn important koala habitat into new real estate developments further dents the chances of survival of Australia’s koalas. 

Many of us, including a large number of Straddie’s traditional owners, are opposed to the re-zoning plan, but we need as much support as possible to show we won’t let this happen. There are other eco-friendly alternatives to accommodate the need to develop the local economy while preserving the unique natural heritage of the island. 

Your voice counts! Please sign this petition to show your support!

Dr. Geoffrey Gearheart  (scientist and Stradbroke Island resident)