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The Australian Koala Foundation (AKF) found that koala numbers have dropped significantly in the last six years. A recent survey of almost 2,000 forest sites around Australia estimates the population might be as high as 80,000, but could possibly be as low as 43,000. Either way, that's a drop from 100,000 in 2003, the AFP reported.
AKF chief Deborah Tabart described to the AFP the many factors that are to blame for the decline, including loss of habitat, climate change, and disease. Clearing forests for human settlement and agriculture stresses the animals and forces them to compete for food, and when humans move into formerly forested areas, many koalas are killed by pet dogs or traffic collisions. Hot, dry weather has increased bush fires that endanger the animals, and has lead to drought conditions that have reduced nutrients in eucalyptus, the favorite food of koalas. On top of all that, a large outbreak of chlamydia has also killed large numbers of the country's koalas.
Tabart told the AFP that all of these factors could drive the species to extinction by 2040.
Australia's threatened species committee is scheduled to make a recommendation about koala conservation by the middle of 2010, reports the AFP. In the meantime, we'll be crossing our fingers for the fuzzy-eared pseudo-bears.
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its a shame the world is coming to an end... slowly but surely....if they would just stop bulding.... stop letting so many people into this country... slow down America. i feel so bad for animals, who only want to exist... such a shame
Are you serious? This is taking place in AUSTRALIA. What in the world does America or immigration have to do with the koalas???
I totally agree with you Brandi, All those illegal inmigrants and their koala diets! God, you are dumb!!
how can you say this is stupid just because it doesn't have to do with immigration? This is a huge deal. Animals are becoming extinct left and right because of humans. Did you forget that almost everybody in America is here due to immigration? Seriously, get educated you retard.
This is soo sad... They are not found anywhere else on the planet! They really need to step up their efforts! All over the world we are causing animals to go extinct at much faster than any discovered natural rate! It is sick what we will do to the planet... We suck all of its natural resources up and exploit everything around us to our own gain! We are a virus, the earth our host, and little by little, we are breaking it down and destroying it...... What a shame!
I agree humans such as you are destroying the planet. Park the Mercedes and ride a bicycle to the nexr Sierra Club meeting!
Great writing... "...the cuddly critters are also in seriously endangered."??? Can we get a proof reader here please?
I love it!!! Proofreader...PLEASE
Until humans, as a species, begin to address the issue of runaway human overpopulation, things will only get worse. You can talk all you want about living in a greener, more sustainable way, but until human population stops growing, it's only talk.
AMEN, MiserblOF! I'm so sick of people having broods of children and then thinking they're so environmentally friendly because they drive a hybrid SUV and buy organic food. SUCH hypocrites!
I agree. We are adding too many people to this planet. Please, stress birth control (for the man and the woman). There would not be an abortion debate if people would just be responsible.
11/20/09
Not to worry, when the animals become extinct, man is soon to follow:
cockroaches and rats will outlive our best efforts to destroy this planet.
We deserve nothing less!!
Man cannot destroy this planet. He can cause lifeforms to become extinct, even his own, but he can never destroy the planet. If man eliminated all lifeforms, the planet would cleanse itself and start over again. Only this time around man would not be on the list of lifeforms.
NATURES #1 RULE: ADAPT OR PERISH.
The world will be a sadder place without these cute creatures. Some more change we can count on!
should be the damn humans going extinct
Starting with you Dan??...It is a shame that animals are going extinct at a faster rate than ever before.....but animals have been coming and going since life began here on earth. Besides, the Koala has been endangered ever since I was a kid 45 years ago....for the same reasons!!
dan-dan if all the humans were taken off the planet, who would count all endangered species?
Send OBummer over there let him pick them up and bring them all back to DC! His wife can grow a garden to feed them! PROBLEM SOLVED
One question, Dan. Are you human???