20 August 2012
Australia Zoo and the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital are passionate about the protection of koalas, and has welcomed the Queensland government's announcement last week, from Andrew Powell (Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection), that it wants to purchase land identified as suitable for the long-term protection of the species. We look forward to seeing how this new koala protection plan will unfold.
"The State Government is committed to the conservation of koalas and delivering this election commitment demonstrates that," Mr Powell said.
"We have allocated $22.5 million over the next three years to buy land and expand koala habitat in areas where their territory is under significant pressure."
Since January 2012, the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital has treated over 504 koalas from south-east Queensland, many from the Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay regions. Urbanisation remains a major threat to Queensland's koala population, for whom being hit by a vehicle is one of the biggest threats, followed closely by injury from domestic cats and dogs.
In 2011, over 7500 native animals were admitted to the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital (837 koalas), with up to 65 animals across 11 species are admitted to the hospital on a single day.
If you would like to learn more about the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital and how you can be involved visit www.wildlifewarriors.org.au or check out our Patient of the Week series.
Read the full media release from Andrew Powell: http://www.andrewpowell.com.au/2012/08/14/powell-media-release-wanted-land-to-help-protect-seq-koalas-14-august-2012/
2 Comments
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Carol Anthony 3rd September 2012 08:17:08 AEST
We have 8 and a half acre's and I have seen koala's on it. I am going to be planting more of their food tree's at the back which we don't use. We leave this for the wild animals. We are in the post code 4799 which is in Bloomsbury (between Mackay and Whitsunday's).All the land around here is in 5 acre blocks or more and backs onto Govt land. Could someone help with any free Koala food tree's to plant out? I would also like to see other people in the neighbourhood about planting more koala tree's in this area. I think that this is important to do. We just have to get a good population going all over Australia.Kind Regards, Carol.
Agostina 21st August 2012 10:06:45 AEST
I'm underage so I can not get a steady job to be an adult, but I like to travel beyond the site to learn more. I'm from Argentina but study English for 6 years I only have four years and I have my degree in English which I would not find difficult to communicate with you. I really love animals and am very interested in learning more and getting to work at Australia Zoo. I want to do first aid courses on animals, and also study all about the animals that you are used to save and care. This product has really helped me learn more about animals and possible future work there, the TV show that you have is very interesting. Thank you very much.