Summary
23 February 2012
The Australian government has been urged to add the Koala to its list of nationally threatened species. Conservationists worry that the animal is heading towards extinction because of disease, climate change and a loss of habitat.
Reporter
Phil Mercer
Conservationists estimate there are about 100,000 koalas in the wild
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Report
The number of koalas in Australia is unclear but conservationists estimate there are about 100,000 in the wild. They believe that the population is continuing to fall because of various threats, including a disease that causes blindness and infertility. The building of homes and roads is also eating away at their habitat.
The Australian government is being urged to declare the koala a threatened or endangered animal. This would give federal authorities the power to protect these furry marsupials from development.
The Environment Minister Tony Burke has asked a panel of experts for more information detailing areas where koala populations are in trouble. He is expected to make a final decision in the next couple of months.
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Vocabulary
- conservationists
people who take an active part in the protection of the environment
- estimate
roughly calculate
- threats
things that could have a negative impact
- infertility
not being able to produce babies
- eating away at
steadily removing
- endangered
at risk of dying out
- furry
covered with fur
- panel
group of specialists
- in trouble
facing difficulty
