China News Service, February 11 (Xinhua) According to a comprehensive report, the number of koalas in Australia has dropped sharply due to climate change, land reclamation and disease.
Koalas are considered endangered in the Australian states of New South Wales, Queensland and the Capital Territory.
Data map: A koala holds a branch.
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation's best estimate of the wild koala population is about 180,000 on Australia's east coast, the report said.
But Australian Koala Foundation chief executive Deb Thabart said the actual number of koalas in the wild was much smaller than estimated, at around 50,000 to 80,000.
The Koala Foundation estimates that wild koala populations have declined by 30 percent since 2018.
A report released in September 2021 put the wild koala population at between 32,065 and 57,920.
South Australia's Kangaroo Island, Australia's wildfires killed hundreds of millions of animals, including koalas.
In the photo, a koala sadly buried its face in its arms, while its friend lay beside it, lifeless.
More measures are being urged to protect koalas from rapid habitat loss and climate change, according to reports.
Commonwealth Environment Minister Susan Ley said being on the endangered species list meant koala conservation had a higher priority.
Ley also said the federal government has committed $50 million to the raising and protection of koalas.
In addition, the government is connecting the koala habitat corridor in northern NSW and southern Queensland, and planting new forests to protect wild koala habitat.