Friends of the Koala is not impressed by the lack of provision for wildlife protection in the federal budget announced last night, as species including the koala move closer to extinction.
‘We are very disappointed that our national icon continues to be neglected by the federal government,’ said Silva Everaers, General Manager of Friends of the Koala, who oversees 300 volunteers and six staff-members.
‘This year alone, we have seen a 20 per cent increase in koalas requiring treatment in our hospital,’ said Ms Everaers.
‘We, and organisations like ours, urgently need financial support to keep up with demand and ensure koalas are around for future generations.
‘The continued operation of our Koala Hospital is at risk without financial support. Koalas are loved and supported globally — our leaders must recognise their significance and support the organisations that work tirelessly to protect them,’ she said.
Silva Everaers says koala populations and mitigation of the threats they face must be supported by expert koala hospitals and rehabilitation facilities capable of assessing, treating, collecting samples, reporting, managing and monitoring koalas in these areas.
‘Without financial support, none of this can be practically achieved.’
Failure
She told The Echo, ‘The failure of the Australian government to allocate sufficient funding for koala conservation and the protection of their habitat undermines the efforts of hundreds of volunteers across the country that work tirelessly 24/7 to protect this vulnerable species.
‘This budget’s lack of sufficient funding for koala conservation is a missed opportunity to show action in biodiversity protection.
We need to rethink our priorities to safeguard our wildlife and their habitat,’ Ms Everaers said.
Friends of the Koala’s mission is to make a significant contribution to Australia’s biodiversity by ensuring the conservation of the iconic koala and the preservation and enhancement of its habitat, particularly in the Northern Rivers Region of NSW.
The organisation plays a crucial role in protecting and rehabilitating koala populations through its dedicated efforts, including habitat creation, rescue and rehabilitation initiatives, and the establishment of a specialised koala hospital.
