Koalas Are 'Functionally Extinct'! Only 80,000 Remaining, Says Australian Koala Foundation
With koalas becoming 'functionally extinct' they are unlikely to produce a new generation.
There is a drastic decrease in the number of koalas present in the wild across Australia. The number has fallen so low that the species is believed to be 'functionally extinct'. The Australian Koala Foundation (AKF) said that their population has been reducing and is feared to dip than the number needed to maintain the species' existence. According to the AKF, there may be as few as 80,000 of the animals left in the wild. With these marsupials becoming 'functionally extinct' they are unlikely to produce a new generation. Currently, the koala population is so small that it no more affects its environment and does not have breeding pairs. They could be possibly breeding from such a small number that it could succumb to genetic disease. Thirsty Koala Drinks Water From Bottle Amidst Heatwave in Australia, Video Goes Viral.
The foundation says that since 2010 it has been monitoring the 128 Federal electorates that fall within the range of the koalas and it is shocking that 41 electorates known for the presence of the animals have none today. The Australian Koala Foundation has been trying to introduce a Koala Protection Act to provide real legislative protection for koalas since quite some time. In a press release by AKP, in letters to Prime Minister Morrison Australian Koala Foundation, Prime Minister Morrison and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, Deborah Tabart OAM, Chairman of the AKF said that the fate of koalas is in the hands of the leaders. Australian Koala Goes Viral For Its Seduction Skills, Check Hot Picture of the Marsupial!
He said, "The AKF thinks there are no more than 80,000 Koalas in Australia. This is approximately 1% of the 8 million Koalas that were shot for fur and sent to London between 1890 and 1927." In 2012, the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act listed koala as 'vulnerable' but that did not change to protect koalas. In 2016, around 330,000 of the animals left in Australia and this number has dwindled between 144,000 and 600,000. Climate Change Claims Bramble Cay Melomys! Australia Declares the Great Barrier Reef Rodent Extinct Due to Habitat Loss.
The biggest threat to these marsupials are habitat loss as cutting down of trees takes away their homes. Climate change affects them terribly as they die due to dehydration. Tabart said, "I know the Australian public are concerned for the safety of Koalas and are tired of seeing dead Koalas on our roads. It is time for the Government to respect the Koala and protect its habitat.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 15, 2019 12:32 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).