The Strzelecki Koala Can it Survive the Plantation Industry

This short video shows the precarious state of the Strzelecki koala and the absolute fluke that the animal has survived at all, despite being almost wiped out a century ago. The Strzelecki koala is the only genetically diverse population remaining in Victorian and South Australia. The biggest threat to its survival is climate change (heightened bush fire risk), habitat loss, vehicle strike, and the plantation industry. Its genetic origin has now been tracked back to a small 560 hectare national park, Morwell National Park (MNP), which wasn't created until the 1960's. Most of its surrounding habitat of MNP will soon by pine plantations. The koala faces another century of plantation logging. Can it survive? The Strzelecki koala has no Victorian or Federal Government protection, despite its genetic significance. Current numbers of the animal throughout the Strzelecki Ranges and South Gippsland probably total ~2,500 animals.