Already hit by bushfires, droughts and habitat loss, the survival of our east coast koalas is on a knife-edge.
Koalas were already in trouble, but the catastrophic 2019-20 bushfires showed the world just how perilous the situation is. The science is now clear: our rapidly warming climate is increasing the severity of fire and drought, pushing koalas even further towards extinction on our east coast.
Tragically, in some key locations we lost more than 70% of our koalas after the devastating fires raged through their forests. These landscapes now look and sound so different. It's an eerie and disturbing feeling to know that some may never be the same.
Extinction is not an option for our koalas. Together we can help them survive a hotter world, safe from extinction. Please donate today to help fireproof koala populations and to protect and restore their habitat. You can help give them a fighting chance today.
Your donation today
Our koalas can't wait
We can save them from a hotter, drier world.
Koalas are not only crucial, but irreplaceable to our Australian landscapes.
Our two breakthrough additions to the Koalas Forever program will directly address the threats of extreme fire to our koalas.
Cultural burning:
Fire has connected Indigenous peoples to the land across the centuries, and its symbolic significance continues to be passed down through generations. Traditional Owners have continued to harness the healing powers of fire to sustain the land.
In particular, cultural burning also known as cool burning, has been used for more than 60,000 years to manage land, plants and animals, and improve the health of Country and its people. The practice involves lighting small fires throughout the landscape at the right time of year to rejuvenate the undergrowth and avoid wildfires travelling through later in the season.
Preserving habitats:
Climate-driven weather events are becoming more frequent and extreme, with fire risk predicted to increase 25% by 2050. This will spell disaster for our koalas, as they and their habitat are unable to recover from one wildfire before being hit by another.
The good news is that we can take action now - by getting behind Koalas Forever, you will help improve the resilience of key koala country, including vital wildlife corridors. Climate-smart restoration is our best hope of combating the bushfires of the future - and saving our koalas.
You can do your part today by helping us to reach our goal to double koala numbers on our east coast by 2050 and ensuring our koalas not only survive, but thrive. Please donate to help protect our koalas today.