KOALA ADVOCACY
Speaking Up, Promoting Best Practice & Providing Connection
WORLD VETERINARY DAY 2024
THEME: "Veterinarians are essential health workers" - 27 April 2024
So many wonderful vets treat injured koalas & other Australian native wildlife when they’ve been injured.
We’re truly thankful and proud of all our vets who care for koalas & all injured wildlife, and we celebrate you all!
Today, 27 April, has been World Veterinary Day 2024!
This year’s theme is: “Veterinarians are essential health workers".
Koalas are regularly found injured & are rescued by wildlife carer groups. Often they need to be checked, and treated by veterinarians.
The wildlife rescue & carer sector is largely volunteer, and would be at a loss without all the fabulous vets who treat our wildlife patients!
All too often, funding is a problem, and wildlife carers struggle to find an available vet to treat injured wildlife who are needing urgent veterinary help.
Let’s celebrate veterinarians more, as essential health workers for our native wildlife, and encourage the government to put proper funding into wildlife veterinary services.
Image: Mel & the Menagerie, native & domestic animal rescue inc on Facebook.
EXTENSION TO NSW KOALA STRATEGY REVIEW
Important Update: Extension for submissions by 4 Weeks - 26 April 2024
The NSW Government is currently accepting submissions into the review of the NSW Koala Strategy discussion paper.
Submissions were due to close today (Friday, 26 April 2024).
However, in important news, the NSW Government is extending the submission period for an additional 4 weeks. Submissions will now close on Friday, 24 May 2024.
This extra 4 week submission period will allow more people to make a submission to the NSW Koala Strategy Review, and Koala Advocacy will therefore be producing guidance to help people prepare their submissions if they haven't already made comments on the Koala Strategy Review.
If you would like to be notified when this koala review guidance is released & receive Koala Advocacy updates, please fill out the form below:
"THE KOALAS" - COMING SOON
New feature documentary by Sydney based Film Projects - 16 April 2024
"The Koalas" is a new feature documentary by Sydney based Film Projects, coming to cinemas soon.
Wild Koalas are being pushed to the brink by habitat loss, urban development, logging & other factors. Can they survive?
Wildlife carers observe an increase in sick and injured koalas coming into care. A government enquiry finds that the koala could be extinct in the wild by 2050. Firestorms in 2019/20 followed by floods kill an estimated 61,000 koalas. Saving the koala will take more than the promise of emergency government funding, scientific research, or rescue and care.
This film follows the fate of individual koalas that have survived so far but whose future is uncertain. Weaving stories with compelling characters - wildlife carers, scientists, and ecologists in the field, and informed commentary the film questions whether Australia can save an iconic threatened species like the koala. If not, what does it say about us?
The over-arching issue is loss of habitat - all of the other issues that koalas face come in under that habitat loss...
Watch the trailer, and make sure to see "The Koalas" when it hits the big screen!
Inquiries & further info: info@filmprojects.com.au
WINCHESTER COAL MINE THREATENS KOALA HABITAT
One of the largest proposed new coal mines in Australia - 11 April 2024
Winchester South coal mine is the looming climate and wildlife disaster you probably haven’t heard of.
Whitehaven Coal is behind this destructive new mine, with plans to dig up to 17 million tonnes of coal every year past 2050 in Queensland’s Bowen Basin.
The mine would create a staggering 583 million tonnes of greenhouse gas pollution over its lifetime.
The Winchester coal mine will fuel habitat loss and destroy 169 hectares of koala habitat and more than 130 hectares of greater glider habitat.
What’s more, Whitehaven plans to dump likely polluted dam water into the Isaac River and leave two massive mine voids that will drain groundwater, forever.
The Environmental Defenders Office are representing the Australian Conservation Foundation and Mackay Conservation Group, who will argue the court should recommend no mining lease or environmental authority be granted for the Winchester South project due to its significant environmental and human rights impacts.
Legal action is one of the most effective tools for challenging environmentally destructive projects like this one. With the law, we can make sure the community’s voice is heard in court and hold decision-makers to account.
You can help supercharge the legal defence of our climate, communities and wildlife by making a donation today at EDO: Winchester South coal mine.
WHY NSW IS LOGGING KOALA HABITAT
Video Report: The Carbon Credit Grift Destroying Koala Habitat - 10 April 2024
Despite a decade-long commitment to establish the Great Koala National Park, the NSW Labor Government is delaying its creation so that the forests can be exploited for carbon credits.
This has disastrous consequences for koalas and their habitat, as well as the climate.
In this video report, the Australia Institute pulls back the curtains on why the koala habitat on the mid-north coast is still being logged.
Officially, the government has stated that the reason for the delay is to allow time for consultation with stakeholders, however this would not be a reason to continue logging koala habitat during the consultation process.
If this was actualy about consultation with stakeholders, then the obvious thing to do would be to place a moratorium on logging during that process.
However, NSW Premier Chris Minns' made a remarkable admission last year, when he disclosed a further motive for the go-slow: the government is reluctant to create the new national park or end logging and land clearing that is destroying koala habitat until it secures another way to make money from the trees.
Essentially, the NSW Government wants to exploit the forests for carbon credits.
Apart from the obvious issue of the forest and koala habitat lost while logging continues, the carbon credits the NSW Government are planning to create are likely to be a sham.
Using carbon credits to ‘offset’ emissions is essentially a license to pollute.
Without stringent laws requiring polluters to cut emissions before turning to offsets, the credits can be used to maintain or increase emissions, exacerbating global warming.
Research has consistently shown that the carbon credit system is rife with abuse, with businesses claiming credits for activities that would have happened anyway.
Read more at the Australian Institue about the Video Report: The Carbon Credit Grift Destroying Koala Habitat
NATIONAL PREMIERE OF "THE FIRST WAVE"
New Rising Tide Film Premieres in Sydney - 4 April 2024
The new Rising Tide film "The First Wave" premiered in Sydney on Thursday, 4th April 2024.
This film documents the 2023 People’s Blockade of Newcastle, the World’s Largest Coal Port in November 2023.
What relevance does this have to koalas?
According to a WWF report released in November 2020, more than 60,000 koalas were killed, injured or affected in some way in the Black Summer bushfires of 2019/2020.
Read: WWF: 60,000 Koalas Impacted by Bushfire Crisis.
2023 was the hottest year in recorded history, and burning more coal is only contributing to the problem and damaging our environment, leading to more extreme drought & bushfires which have a devastating affect on koalas.
As temperatures continue to increase, there will be more days of extreme heat, which can profoundly affect koalas (even without bushfires). Koalas are well insulated with thick fur to cope with cold winter nights, however they’re not able to cool down during extended heatwaves.
Too many days & nights of unrelenting extreme heat can impact koalas, and as we move towards an increase of 1.5 degrees C above pre-industrial levels, koalas are finding it harder to survive. Koalas don’t have air conditioners in their trees.
“The First Wave” is also due to be screened at the Central Coast (Narara Ecovillage), Canberra, Newcastle, Melbourne, Taree & Adelaide - as well as a few other screenings.
Check where the film is being shown: The First Wave screening locations.
Plans are on track to make the People's Blockade of Newcastle Coal Port even bigger in 2024.
MINISTER APPROVES NEW KOALA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Harvesting of Tasmanian blue gums on Kangaroo Island now resumes - 3 April 2024
Harvesting of Tasmanian blue gums on Kangaroo Island will now resume after the State Government approved a new koala management plan submitted by timber company, AAG Investment Management (AAGIM).
Regulations introduced by the Government following the release of footage showing koalas being killed and injured within the plantations mean timber companies on the island cannot fell blue gum plantations without an approved koala management plan.
Improvements to koala welfare management outlined in the plan include:
- additional koala spotting requirements and strategies to manage fatigue and communications with harvesters
- a requirement to report incidents within 24 hours, and monthly interactions and operational activity reports be provided to authorities
- notification of planned harvest activity two weeks prior to harvesting
- formalising the relationship between vets, wildlife carers and company
- differentiating koala spotting strategies between structurally stable plantations and those unsafe due to fire impact
Susan Close: "No animal, national icon or not, should ever be treated in this way"
Unbelievably, the Environment Minister, Susan Close, who stated in Parliament that "No animal, national icon or not, should ever be treated in this way", has approved blue gum harvesting by the same company that was chopping down trees with koalas in them, before the investigation is complete.
The investigation is due to consider any koala cruelty within the timber plantations and any breaches of animal welfare laws.
Although there is public video evidence of koalas being flung to their deaths from trees, the Environment Minister has approved the same timber harvesting company to continue logging the koala habitat before the investigation has concluded.
Quotes Attributable to Susan Close
"The footage of koalas being killed and injured in timber plantations on Kangaroo Island shocked our community and required an immediate response from government."
"This is why plantation owners now require an improved koala management plan before they can continue to remove the invasive Tasmanian blue gums from the island."
"While this improved management plan will allow the company to resume felling, the investigation into any breaches of animal welfare laws is ongoing, as is work on a broader management plan for koalas on the island."
A REMINDER OF KOALA KILLING ON KANGAROO ISLAND
Criminal investigation launched into koala crisis on Kangaroo Island | 7 News Australia - 2 April 2024
This video from 4 weeks ago reminds us that the South Australian Government opened an investigation into the koala deaths on Kangaroo Island.
“The Kangaroo Island koala crisis exposed by 7NEWS is at the centre of a criminal investigation as RSPCA inspectors arrive on the island."
“The government has rushed through new powers allowing it to halt logging at the plantations where dozens of koalas have been killed.”
This came after the growing outrage over claims that hundreds of koalas were being killed on Kangaroo Island as loggers destroy their feed trees, with koalas being flung to their deaths.
However, after the public outrage has calmed down, Susan Close has now approved the resumption of harvesting of koala habitat in Kangaroo Island's Tasmanian blue gum plantations.
Logging is expected to resume tomorrow - 3 April 2024.
NORTH WEST SYDNEY KOALAS LEFT OF THE MAP
NSW Koala Strategy Discussion Paper doesn't mention koalas in Hills/Hornsby/Hawkesbury - 26 March 2024
Following the NSW Koala Summit last Friday, the NSW Koala Strategy is open for review.
Unfortunately, the NSW Koala Strategy Discussion Paper doesn't recognise the Hills/Hornsby/Hawkesbury area of north west Sydney as having any koalas or even potential koala habitat:
Page 10 of the Koala Strategy Discussion Paper shows a map of NSW, with areas marked as:
- Approximate stronghold locations
- Indicative locations of proposed and established regional partnerships
- Indicative locations of established Aboriginal partnerships
- Indicative locations of populations for immediate investment
According to the NSW Koala Strategy, it's not even worth identifying the koalas in Sydney's north west region.
The koalas from the Hills, Hornsby & Hawksebury areas of north west Sydney have literally been left off the map.
It's very important to engage in the Review of the NSW Koala Strategy, and tell the NSW Government to accurately map koalas & koala habitat in NSW, including koalas in Sydney's north west, so that they can adequately allocate resources to all areas in need of koalas research, conservation, and protection of koala habitat.
Visit Reviewing the NSW Koala Strategy and submit your views - Submissions close on 26 April 2024.
Koala Advocacy will be providing more information about ideas you might want to include in your submission to the NSW Koala Strategy Review in the coming weeks.
EXTINCTION LOGGING
Extinction Logging Operations are a Profound Tragedy - 18 March 2024
Longtime forest advocates have expressed disgust at the ongoing logging of koala habitat in northern New South Wales despite the state government promising to protect the koalas.
The NSW Labor Government won the election almost 12 months ago on the back of a promise to create the Great Koala National Park, which local koala groups have been requesting for years.
However, in a direct breaking of it’s election promise, the Minns Government continued the logging of the very area that they had promised to turn into the Great Koala National Park.
In the wake of much criticism of their broken election promise, Premier Chris Minns announced a halt to logging operations. In September last year, the Minns government ordered a halt to logging operations in certain high value koala habitat – known as “koala hubs” – in the proposed Great Koala National Park.
However, that move protected 5% of the proposed park but community campaigners say logging has continued in other important habitat within its boundaries, as well as in koala habitat outside the proposed park.
Mark Graham, a well known environmentalist, said: “These are extinction logging operations. This is a profound tragedy.”
The concerns come ahead of a state koala summit to be held in Sydney on Friday.
Mark Graham said if the government was serious about preventing the extinction of the koala, the simplest action it could take would be to immediately stop logging and protect all koala hubs and nationally important koala areas in state forests - both within and outside the boundaries of the proposed great koala national park.
He said there had been active logging throughout the park, including at Sheas Nob, north-west of the Dorrigo Plateau, Kangaroo river and Wild Cattle creek.
Read the full story at:
The Guardian: Continued logging of NSW koala habitat is ‘a profound tragedy’
MARCH IN MARCH FOR FORESTS
March To End Native Forest Logging - 16 March 2024
The Bob Brown Foundation are organising a nationwide "March in March for Forests" on Sunday 24 March 2024 (17 March for Hobart).
Right now, native forest logging is destroying critical wildlife habitat - killing endanged species like the Koala, Greater Glider & Gang-gang Cockatoo, as well as many other threatened species.
Enough is enough! It's time for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his government to end native forest logging, once & for all, Australia-wide.
There are marches planned for:
- Adelaide
- Bega
- Bellingen
- Canberra
- Hobart
- Kyneton
- Lismore
- Newcastle
- Sydney
Last year, 5,000 people rallied on the streets to stand up for native forests - let's make this year March in March for Forests even bigger!
Will you march with us to end Native Forest Logging?
Find out more, and Register at March in March for Forests and come along on Sunday 24 March 2024 (17 March for Hobart).
NSW KOALA SUMMIT
Putting koalas in the spotlight - 15 March 2024
New South Wales will host a Koala Summit one week from today on Friday 22 March 2024 to inform the government’s work to protect the Australian icon.
The Koala Summit, to be held at Taronga Zoo in Sydney, will bring together key knowledge holders from across New South Wales to provide advice about the effectiveness of current conservation activities and make recommendations for future priorities.
The summit will be a key consultation point in the NSW Koala Strategy review process. It will examine whether existing actions, targets and delivery approach are working for koala program areas and locations around New South Wales. Advice from the summit will be provided to the Minister for the Environment to inform the refresh of the strategy.
To supplement advice from the summit, a discussion paper will seek community views on the NSW Koala Strategy and current koala conservation actions.
Attendance at the Koala Summit will be by invitation only and numbers will be limited to approximately 150 people.
Because the numbers are so limited, many people have been excluded from attending this important koala summit, which is painfully disappointing for people involved in koala rescue, conservation & advocacy who've been restricted from attending.
Environment Minister Penny Sharpe stated:
"The summit will bring together key knowledge holders from across New South Wales to provide advice about the effectiveness of current conservation activities and make recommendations for future priorities.
"We recognise koala conservation is a shared responsibility, and we welcome the involvement of the private sector in supporting our efforts."
When questioned why so many people have been excluded from the Koala Summit, a government source stated that it's because the venue can only hold a limited number of people - however the NSW Government was free to hold the summit in any venue they chose, or to hold the summit over multiple days to allow the full range of voices to speak up and discuss the NSW Koala Strategy.
If you haven't been invited to attend the Koala Summit, there is an opportunity to read the Discussion Paper, and make a submission to the consultation process.
If you have any interest in koalas, it's vitally important that you engage in this consultation process on the NSW Koala Strategy, because it will shape government strategy into the future, and there are significant gaps in both the information that the Government is providing, and the strategic policy that the Government is proposing.
Please don't miss this important opportunity to have your say.
Submissions close on 26 April 2024.
Koala Advocacy will be providing guidance on making submissions to the consultation, so please stay tuned.
STATE OF KOALAS IN THE SYDNEY BASIN
First Annual Assessment - 15 March 2024
The Sydney Basin Koala Network have released new research which shows that the area where koalas are found in the Sydney Basin is declining and the areas supporting long standing breeding populations of koalas is also reducing.
SBKN have released their State of Koalas in the Sydney Basin, First Annual Assessment dated March 2024.
In the time since koalas were listed as endangered, things have gone from bad to worse with growing threats from development set to push koalas into further decline. The need for protection is becoming ever more urgent.
KOALA ADVOCACY LAUNCH
Speaking Up, Promoting Best Practice & Providing Connection - 14 March 2024
Koala Advocacy have launched a new website & Facebook page with the mission of supporting & defending koalas and their habitat against all threats, both natural & those caused by human society.
The launch is in response to the significant & ongoing dangers facing koalas in every Australian state with a resident koala population.
Whether it's native forest logging in north east NSW, loss of habitat through urban development in Sydney & Brisbane, harvesting of blue gum plantations in Victoria or Kangaroo Island in South Australia, or destruction of koala habitat for expanding agricultural lands, mining or wind farm projects, the continual fragmentation and loss of koala habitat poses the most serious threat to koala populations across the country.
Koalas face other threats including devastating loss from bushfires & drought, injury or death from being hit by cars & trucks on the roads that we build through koala habitat, dieback of trees & forests, destruction of wildlife corridors that link between larger habitat areas, predation by dogs in urban landscaps, and the ubiquitous threat posed by diseases such as Chlamydia & Koala Retrovirus.
The major problem of habitat loss is compounded by the fact that the three levels of government in Australia (Federal, State & Local Councils) all regularly approve the destruction of koala habitat, when they are fully aware that fragmentation and loss of habitat causes the most serious decline of koala populations.
It therefore stands to reason, that the most serious threat facing koalas, is also the one which could most easily be fixed, if our government was willing.
Koala Advocacy has launched today in response to these issues, and to address these concerns will:
- Speak up for the protection of koalas & their habitat
- Promote best practice for koala conservation strategy
- Provide a meeting place for connection between various koala rescue, care & support groups
Please join with Koala Advocacy in our efforts to conserve koalas & their homes in our eucalypt forests.
Remember that you're not powerless, but we all have a vital role to play in saving Australia's koalas. Please step up with us on this important journey towards saving our much loved koalas into the future.
OUR MISSION
Koala Advocacy supports & defends koalas and their habitat against all threats, both natural & those caused by human society.
- Speaking up for the protection of koalas & their habitat
- Promoting best practice for koala conservation strategy
- Providing connection for koala rescue, care & support groups
Read more about Koala Advocacy's Mission
Inspiration
