20 Aug 2024
AUSTRALIA POST AND WWF-AUSTRALIA JOIN FORCES TO PROTECT KOALAS FROM EXTINCTION
Australia Post and WWF-Australia are encouraging the community to start a conversation about koala conservation, with data revealing only 8% of Australians strongly agree the country is in an extinction crisis1, despite east coast koala numbers plummeting by 50% in the past two decades2.
Currently, as little as 95,000 koalas are estimated to inhabit Australia’s east coast3, with only 16% of Australians expressing strong concern for the state of the country’s natural environment4. As koala breeding season gets underway during August, the urgency to act is greater than ever.
To help spark conversations nationwide, this month Australia Post and WWF-Australia are delivering one million ‘Koala conversation’ flyers to mailboxes in targeted communities across the country, to educate the public and promote koala conservation efforts.
A ‘Koalas in Danger’ stamp and collectables range is also available online and at participating Post Offices. The three $1.50 stamps each feature koalas from New South Wales, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory - regions where koalas are officially listed as endangered.
Australia Post General Manager Community and Stakeholder Engagement, Nicky Tracey, emphasised the importance of this joint campaign to build understanding of the need to protect and restore koalas’ forest homes.
“We are proud to support our partner WWF-Australia by leveraging our network to reach one million households to raise awareness about the threats facing our most iconic Australian animal.
“The impact of extreme weather events and habitat loss are pushing koalas toward extinction. With breeding season underway, koalas are spending more time moving from tree to tree to find a mate, making them vulnerable to even more threats including cars and dogs. To address this, we’re encouraging the community to use the ‘Koala conversation’ flyers to start a dialogue in their local community,” she said.
WWF-Australia aims to double the number of koalas in eastern Australia by 2050. With the support of partners like Australia Post, WWF is working to protect koala habitat, restore and connect koala corridors, support koala hospitals, and provide incentives for landowners to create private safe havens for koalas.
WWF-Australia’s Senior Manager Species Recovery and Landscape Restoration, Tanya Pritchard, said all Australians can play a role in reversing the sad decline of koalas.
“We can all become koala champions by discussing the issues facing these Aussie icons and taking action to protect their forest homes. With the right investments and actions, we can give koalas the chance to thrive, not just survive,” she said.
Australia Post and WWF-Australia launched their partnership in 2023 with a focus on raising awareness of the threats that are pushing koalas to extinction across eastern Australia.
The ‘Koalas in Danger’ stamp and collectables range is available at participating Post Offices and online at https://auspost.com.au/shop/collectables/stamp-issues/australian-stamps/koalas-in-danger. Donate to WWF-Australia’s conservation efforts at participating Post Offices, and with every purchase of Australia Post’s Pip the Koala mascot, $2.00 will also be donated to WWF-Australia.
Learn more about Australia Post’s partnership with WWF-Australia at auspost.com.au/environment.
ENDS
1. Nature Segmentation Survey, Australian Conservation Foundation 2023
2. Conservation Advice for the Koala, Department of Climate Change, Energy, and the Environment and Water
3. National Koala Monitoring Program, Department of Climate Change, Energy, and the Environment and Water
4. Nature Segmentation Survey, Australian Conservation Foundation 2023