Why are koalas overpopulated in Mount Lofty Ranges?

Favourable conditions like rainfall, temperature, and soil acidity boosted habitat suitability, allowing the koala population in Mount Lofty Ranges to thrive.

What is the biggest threat to koalas in New South Wales?

Habitat loss due to land-clearing and urban development is the primary threat to koalas in New South Wales.

How can koala overpopulation be managed in French Island?

Fertility control, like sterilizing adult females, is a proposed long-term strategy to stabilize overabundant koala populations.

Home / Environment / Koala Paradox: Starving in South, Thriving to Death North

Koala Paradox: Starving in South, Thriving to Death North

18 Jan

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Summary

Koalas face overpopulation in southern Australia, risking starvation.
Northern states list koalas as endangered due to habitat loss.
Fertility control is proposed as a costly but effective solution.

Koala Paradox: Starving in South, Thriving to Death North

Australia's koala population is divided into two crises: overpopulation in the south and decline in the north. On French Island, koalas are eating eucalypts bare, leading to starvation, a situation mirrored in South Australia's Mount Lofty Ranges. This overabundance, a result of introduced populations thriving in favourable conditions, threatens the koalas' long-term survival.

Conversely, koalas in Queensland, New South Wales, and the ACT are listed as endangered. These populations have plummeted due to extensive land-clearing, habitat fragmentation from urban development, disease, and direct threats like vehicle strikes and dog attacks. Since 2011, nearly 2 million hectares of suitable koala habitat have been destroyed, predominantly in Queensland.

Addressing these contrasting issues requires a multifaceted approach. While culling is banned and translocation is costly, fertility control, such as sterilizing adult females, is being explored as a more cost-effective strategy for overabundant southern populations. Ultimately, landscape-scale habitat restoration is seen as crucial for the species' sustainability across the country.