The Amazon rainforest fires have brought global attention to deforestation and the massive impact it has on the planet. Everyone is deeply affected by deforestation including the innocent animals who lose their habitat due to human actions. Orangutans are dangerously affected by deforestation for palm oil and the fires in the Amazon rainforest are affecting jaguars. Another beloved animal has long been suffering because of deforestation. The population of koalas, one of the treasures from Australia, has plummeted over the years due to critical habitat loss.

In Queensland, Australia alone, between 2012 and 2016, 5,000 koalas lost their lives due to habitat loss. Ninety-four percent of them died due to deforestation in the state’s rural area.

Despite the clear decline of the koala population, Australia has not listed the animal as endangered. WWF-Australia is calling for the endangered listing. They told Guardian Australia that “development pressure on koala habitats was unnecessary and could be avoided, even as Brisbane’s population grew.” According to Guardian Australia, “from 1990 to 2016, at least 9.6m hectares of koala habitat was bulldozed in Queensland and New South Wales.”

The WWF-Australia ecologist, David Paull says that weak state, federal, and local government laws that allow excessive tree clearing are the reason koalas are losing their habitat.

If you agree that the koalas need protection from the government and their home should not be cleared for development, sign this petition asking the Australian government to do more to help them!

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