Editing Koala (section)

==Conservation==
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{{main|Koala conservation}}
{{Wikinews|Koalas labelled as 'endangered' in eastern states of Australia}}
[[File:Panneaux koala kangourou.jpg|thumb|Road sign depicting a koala and a kangaroo]]
The koala was originally classified as [[least-concern species|Least Concern]] on the [[IUCN Red List|Red List]], and reassessed as [[Vulnerable species|Vulnerable]] in 2014.<ref name="iucn status 12 November 2021" /> In the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales and Queensland, the species was listed under the EPBC Act in February 2022 as endangered by extinction.<ref name="SPRAT2022">{{cite web |title=Phascolarctos cinereus (combined populations of Qld, NSW and the ACT) — Koala (combined populations of Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory) |url=https://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=85104 |website=SPRAT |publisher=Australian Government |year=2022 |access-date=12 February 2022 |archive-date=11 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220211004226/http://environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=85104 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Guardian2022">{{cite news |last1=Cox |first1=Lisa |title=Koala listed as endangered after Australian governments fail to halt its decline |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/feb/11/koala-listed-as-endangered-after-australian-governments-fail-to-halt-its-decline |access-date=11 February 2022 |work=The Guardian |date=11 February 2022 |archive-date=10 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220210231836/https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/feb/11/koala-listed-as-endangered-after-australian-governments-fail-to-halt-its-decline |url-status=live }}</ref> The described population was determined in 2012 to be "a species for the purposes of the EPBC Act 1999" in Federal legislation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Determination that a distinct population of biological entities is a species for the purposes of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (132) |author=[[Tony Burke|Burke, Tony]] |work=Australian Government - Federal Register of Legislation |date=27 April 2012 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2012L00960 |access-date=12 February 2022 |archive-date=12 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220212195138/https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2012L00960 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Australian policymakers declined a 2009 proposal to include the koala in the [[Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999]].<ref name="Price 2012"/> A 2017 [[World Wildlife Fund|WWF]] report found a 53% decline per generation in Queensland, and a 26% decline in New South Wales.<ref>{{cite report |title=Current status of the koala in Queensland and New South Wales |author=Christine Adams-Hosking |publisher=WWF Australia |date=May 2017 |url=https://www.wwf.org.au/ArticleDocuments/353/pub-current-status-of-the-koala-in-queensland-and-new-south-wales-19may17.pdf.aspx |access-date=3 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190409071936/https://www.wwf.org.au/ArticleDocuments/353/pub-current-status-of-the-koala-in-queensland-and-new-south-wales-19may17.pdf.aspx |archive-date=9 April 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> The koala population in South Australia and Victoria appear to be abundant; however, the [[Australian Koala Foundation]] (AKF) argued that the exclusion of Victorian populations from protective measures was based on a misconception that the total population was 200,000, whereas they believed in 2012 that it was probably less than 100,000.<ref name="abc120430">{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-04-30/koala-listed-as-vulnerable/3980216/?site=sydney |title=Koalas added to threatened species list |date=30 April 2012 |publisher=ABC |access-date=2 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510145419/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-04-30/koala-listed-as-vulnerable/3980216/?site=sydney |archive-date=10 May 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> AKF estimated in 2022 that there could be 43,000–100,000.<ref>{{cite news |title=Koala declared endangered as disease, lost habitat take toll |date=11 February 2022 |url=https://apnews.com/article/health-australian-capital-territory-new-south-wales-queensland-environment-f38e062d7ae4806f9d4f7f67dd538968 |work=AP News |access-date=13 February 2022 |archive-date=13 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220213152057/https://apnews.com/article/health-australian-capital-territory-new-south-wales-queensland-environment-f38e062d7ae4806f9d4f7f67dd538968 |url-status=live }}</ref> This compares with 8 to 10''&nbsp;''million at the start of the 20th century.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Infographic: The Worrying Decline of Koala Populations |last=Buchholz |first=Katharina |work=Statista Infographics |date=27 November 2019 |url=https://www.statista.com/chart/20124/decline-of-koala-populations-in-australian-states/ |access-date=14 February 2022 |archive-date=14 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220214121514/https://www.statista.com/chart/20124/decline-of-koala-populations-in-australian-states/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) Fact Sheet: Population & Conservation Status |url=https://ielc.libguides.com/sdzg/factsheets/koala/population |work=San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance |date=June 2021 |access-date=14 February 2022 |archive-date=14 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220214205336/https://ielc.libguides.com/sdzg/factsheets/koala/population |url-status=live }}</ref> The Australian Government's Threatened Species Scientific Committee estimated that the 2021 koala population was 92,000, down from 185,000 two decades prior.<ref>{{cite web|date=11 February 2022|title=Australia warns koalas 'endangered' as numbers plunge|website=Phys.org|url=https://phys.org/news/2022-02-australia-koalas-endangered-plunge.html#:~:text=The%20koala%2C%20a%20globally%20recognised,coast%20just%20a%20decade%20earlier.&text=Conservationists%20said%20it%20was%20hard,in%20the%20affected%20eastern%20states|access-date=19 December 2022}}</ref>

The koala was heavily hunted by European settlers in the early 20th century,<ref name=moyal/>{{rp|121–128}} largely for its fur. Australia exported as many as two million pelts by 1924. Koala furs were used to make rugs, coat linings, [[muff (handwarmer)|muffs]], and on women's garment trimmings.<ref name=moyal/>{{rp|125}} The first successful efforts at conserving the species were initiated by the establishment of Brisbane's [[Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary]] and Sydney's [[Koala Park Sanctuary]] in the 1920s and 1930s. Its owner Noel Burnet created the first successful breeding program.<ref name=moyal/>{{rp|157–159}}

One of the biggest [[wikt:anthropogenic|anthropogenic]] threats to the koala is habitat destruction and fragmentation. Near the coast, the main cause of this is urbanisation, while in rural areas, habitat is cleared for agriculture. Its favoured trees are harvested for wood products.<ref name="Martin-Handasyde" />{{rp|104–107}} In 2000, Australia had the fifth highest rate of land clearance globally, stripping {{convert|564800|ha}} of native plants.<ref name=jackson/>{{rp|222}} The koalas' distribution has shrunk by more than 50% since European arrival, largely due to habitat fragmentation in Queensland.<ref name="McGregor 2013"/> Nevertheless, koalas live in many protected areas.<ref name="iucn status 12 November 2021" />

While urbanisation can pose a threat to koala populations, the animals can survive in urban areas given enough trees.<ref name="Holtcamp 2007">{{cite web|author=Holtcamp, W.|date=5 January 2007|title=Will Urban Sprawl KO the Koala?|publisher=National Wildlife|access-date=22 March 2013|url=http://www.nwf.org/News-and-Magazines/National-Wildlife/Animals/Archives/2007/Will-Urban-Sprawl-KO-the-Koala.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113173601/http://www.nwf.org/News-and-Magazines/National-Wildlife/Animals/Archives/2007/Will-Urban-Sprawl-KO-the-Koala.aspx|archive-date=13 November 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> Urban populations have distinct vulnerabilities: collisions with vehicles and attacks by domestic dogs.<ref>{{Cite web|date=14 February 2006|title=Cars and dogs threaten koala future|url=https://www.uq.edu.au/news/article/2006/02/cars-and-dogs-threaten-koala-future|access-date=22 April 2021|website=University of Queensland News|language=en|archive-date=22 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422073105/https://www.uq.edu.au/news/article/2006/02/cars-and-dogs-threaten-koala-future|url-status=live}}</ref> Cars and dogs kill about 4,000 animals every year.<ref name="Foden 2009">{{cite report |author1=Foden, W. |author2=Stuart, S. N. |title=Species and Climate Change: More than Just the Polar Bear |publisher=IUCN Species Survival Commission |year=2009 |pages=36–37 |url=https://portals.iucn.org/library/sites/library/files/documents/2009-051.pdf |access-date=10 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315144637/https://portals.iucn.org/library/sites/library/files/documents/2009-051.pdf |archive-date=15 March 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> To reduce road deaths, government agencies have been exploring various wildlife crossing options,<ref>{{Cite book|title=How to keep koalas off the road - Koala Vehicle Strike Fact sheet 2|url=https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/-/media/OEH/Corporate-Site/Documents/Animals-and-plants/Threatened-species/koala-vehicle-strike-fact-sheet-2-how-to-keep-koalas-off-roads-200230.pdf|via=NSW Government|date=June 2020|isbn=978-1-922431-20-2|access-date=22 April 2021|archive-date=22 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422073105/https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/-/media/OEH/Corporate-Site/Documents/Animals-and-plants/Threatened-species/koala-vehicle-strike-fact-sheet-2-how-to-keep-koalas-off-roads-200230.pdf|url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Koalas and resilient habitat in the Sutherland Shire|url=https://www.ssec.org.au/our-campaigns/koalas-and-resilient-habitat-in-the-sutherland-shire/|date=September 2021<!--undated, but in Feb22 includes references dated September 2021 & copyr. 2021-->|website=Sutherland Shire Environment Centre|access-date=22 April 2021|archive-date=22 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422034249/https://www.ssec.org.au/our-campaigns/koalas-and-resilient-habitat-in-the-sutherland-shire/|url-status=live}}</ref> such as the use of fencing to channel animals toward an underpass, in some cases adding a walkway to an existing culvert.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Moore|first=Tony|date=26 July 2016|title=Koalas tunnels and bridges prove effective on busy roads|url=https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/koalas-tunnels-and-bridges-prove-effective-on-busy-roads-20160726-gqdsi2.html|access-date=22 April 2021|website=Brisbane Times|language=en|archive-date=22 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422073104/https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/koalas-tunnels-and-bridges-prove-effective-on-busy-roads-20160726-gqdsi2.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=27 July 2016|title=Clever koalas learn to cross the road safely|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-36891868|access-date=22 April 2021|archive-date=22 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422073103/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-36891868|url-status=live}}</ref> Injured koalas are often taken to wildlife hospitals and rehabilitation centres.<ref name="Holtcamp 2007"/> In a 30-year retrospective study performed at a New South Wales koala rehabilitation centre, trauma was found to be the most frequent cause of admission, followed by symptoms of [[chlamydia infection|''Chlamydia'' infection]].<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Griffith, J. E. |author2=Dhand, N. K. |author3=Krockenberger, M. B. |author4=Higgins, D. P. |title=A retrospective study of admission trends of koalas to a rehabilitation facility over 30 years |journal=Journal of Wildlife Diseases |year=2013 |volume=49 |issue=1 |pages=18–28 |doi=10.7589/2012-05-135 |pmid=23307368 |hdl=2123/14628 |s2cid=32878079 |url=https://ses.library.usyd.edu.au/bitstream/2123/14628/2/a-retrospective-study-pdf-2013.pdf |access-date=24 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180721041418/https://ses.library.usyd.edu.au/bitstream/2123/14628/2/a-retrospective-study-pdf-2013.pdf |archive-date=21 July 2018 |url-status=live |hdl-access=free }}</ref>