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Koala Paradox: Starving in South, Thriving to Death North
18 Jan
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.
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.
