What do Victorian koalas need to survive?

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2026-01-29 00:01

Australia; VIC

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Somewhere between 182,000 to 413,000 koalas live in Victoria, and Australian researchers say the complicated history of one of Australia's cutest animals means they're still facing a range of threats the public isn't fully aware of. In a review of the history and current state of Victorian koala conservation, the researchers say many populations are now challenged by a lack of genetic diversity, risk of harm and displacement from commercial blue gum plantations, and pockets of overabundance where too many koalas can ultimately harm the trees they live in and cause population collapse and ecosystem damage. The researchers argue that some necessary steps to protect koalas, such as relocation and fertility control to address overabundance or genetic diversity problems can be challenging for the public to accept, and more needs to be done to effectively communicate the science behind koala conservation to avoid negative public perceptions and make sure decisions are evidence-based.