Fears koalas could wiped out as Brits help fund new Aussie breeding centre

16 July 2023 , 16:20

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Koala numbers in Australia are plummeting (Image: Daily Mirror)

A breeding centre is being built to help save koalas amid fears they could be wiped out by 2050.

Loss of habitat and disease have led to a dramatic drop in the population over the last century from an estimated 10 million in 1923 to 43,000 today. Catastrophic wildfires in recent years have worsened the situation.

An appeal to raise £12,000 for 145 koala drinking stations during the wildfires ended up raising £3.5million from generous animal lovers around the world – many of them in the UK.

And now that money is funding the construction of the world’s first “wild to wild” koala breeding centre near Port Macquaire in New South Wales, where there is also a koala hospital that attracts around 120,000 visitors a year.

Sue Ashton of Koala Conservation Australia, said: “A lot of that money came from the United Kingdom. The centre could be crucial in attempts to save the koalas. The wildfires were devastating for them.

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Devastating wildfires have worsened the situation (AFP via Getty Images)

“The bush may have regenerated well but the last few years have been disastrous for koalas. We know the numbers are drastically down, just by the numbers are coming into the hospital. We’ve got 24 in at the moment – usually there would be at least 36.

“Statistically that’s huge. There has been a drop every year.” Vet Shali Fischer added: “They could become extinct within the next 30 years unless urgent action is taken. We must protect their habitats. We need a proper long-term plan. There is huge worldwide concern over giant pandas and rhinos but we’re in a similar situation with koalas.”

Drones and other technology are helping to target areas where the much loved marsupials could thrive again.

Shali Fischer and Sue Ashton from The Port Macquarie Koala Hospital

The Wild Koala Breeding Programme has been developed in partnership with Taronga Conservation Society, the University of Sydney and the Australian Museum Research Institute.

A spokesman said: “It aims to breed wild koalas from a carefully selected healthy ‘founder’ population in a scientifically controlled research and breeding facility. This naturally forested facility will be as close to wild koala habitat as possible, whilst retaining strict animal health protocols.

“By 2026 and beyond, we aim to have a founder population of over 100 healthy koalas and be producing 60 joeys each year for release to the wild, where they will be carefully tracked and monitored.

“Our aim is to develop a robust, scientifically proven breeding model that can be replicated to help rebuild koala populations across Australia."

Andy Lines