Dr. Sean FitzGibbon, a wildlife researcher at the University of Queensland, is sounding the alarm. Koalas like the one pictured here, just outside Ipswich (South-East Queensland) are experiencing a critical time. With fewer than 16,000 koalas left in the wild, these iconic marsupials are currently at risk of extinction. Their populations are further compounded by an unusual epidemic of chlamydia, vehicle strike mortality and dog or feral animal attacks. Tragically, almost half of the koalas that are rescued and taken into RSPCA Queensland to be treated as casualties never recover from their injuries. Each year, about 10 percent of the wild koala population ends up in veterinary hospitals.
The need for urgent conservation measures have never been more apparent. Four proposed developments covering nearly 450 hectares in the Woogaroo Forest – an important habitat on the outskirts of Ipswich – are still going through environmental assessments. The Queensland Government has recognized much of this same forest as prime koala habitat. Now local advocates like Rebecca Larkin of the Ipswich Koala Protection Society are speaking out. They particularly lament the rapid decimation of the Collingwood Park koala population, exacerbated by development approved under the town planning scheme.
Current Threats to Koalas
Dr. FitzGibbon underlines the fact that koalas are resilient and adaptable creatures, but they are now dealing with stressors unlike any other time. “It’s death by a thousand cuts … if you look at the broader picture then how can you not determine that these developments in combination will have a significant impact,” he stated. He argues that current evaluations of potential new developments usually overlook one key element. They pretty much ignore the cumulative effect all of these projects are having on koalas.
Habitat loss is the leading threat to koalas. At RSPCA Queensland, almost 50% of koalas treated from trauma injuries do not make it. Moreover, Dr. Portas warns, “Unless something significant changes and we look at protecting koala habitat and disease control programs for chlamydia, there’s a real risk we won’t have koalas in south-east Queensland in the not-too-distant future.”
As housing demands continue to grow in the region, some experts argue for a more comprehensive approach to urban planning. Dr. Portas notes, “Obviously we have a growing population and there’s a need for more houses, but we probably need to look at more comprehensive strategies that don’t target prime habitat.”
The Role of Woogaroo Forest
The Woogaroo Forest is an important refuge for gloriously commonplace koalas and other wildlife. Thanks to the tireless work of Dr. FitzGibbon and his team, patches of the area have been re-populated with rescued koalas. Among them are young survivors, including Maximus and William, who were taken to a renowned wildlife hospital outside Brisbane before being released back to their natural home. “We’ve placed more than a dozen animals here now and we’ve already had the first generation and now the second generation coming through, so it’s not all bad news,” he remarked.
Worries hang over proposed Coal Creek developments that would threaten to carve through this essential habitat. A spokesperson from the federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water indicated that preliminary documentation addressing environmental concerns has yet to be received. This calls into question the sufficiency of these existing assessments and considers the future, cumulative impact on koala populations.
Local advocates emphasize that protecting habitat is key. Rebecca Larkin emphasizes: “Once something is listed as endangered, you know that every single one of those animals needs to be protected.” She highlights the dissonance between community needs and development goals, stating, “At the other end of the system you’ve got big developers making hundreds of millions of dollars and building houses that are spread out, that aren’t communities.”
The Future of Koalas in South-East Queensland
The fate of koalas in South- East Queensland is in the balance as development pressures only increase. Just 6% of their original range is left. The fate of these remarkable marsupials depends on urgent and impactful conservation efforts. As Dr. FitzGibbon mentions, habitat connectivity is a key factor in their survival. “They need the right food trees and connectivity, that’s crucial,” he explained.
The loss has spurred activists to demand greater protections for developments that endanger important habitats such as the Woogaroo Forest. Local authorities must consider long-term ecological impacts rather than short-term economic gains. Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding acknowledged that planning decisions made decades ago have lasting consequences: “was put in place by the Queensland Government in the 1990s to support significant residential development.”
