2023-12-14
The ACT Government has released the final Native Species Conservation Plan for the Koala which was listed as endangered in the ACT in early 2023.
Minister for the Environment Rebecca Vassarotti says the ACT is leading the way in national koala recovery efforts to help koala populations thrive well into the future.
“Unless the country takes urgent action to protect our koalas, they will be extinct. The only way to protect koalas is to protect all remaining koala habitat wherever it is,” Minister Vassarotti said.
“While we currently have no known wild populations of Koalas in the ACT, the Government is continuing to search for them in our reserves.
“We are hopeful through further conservation research and planning that koalas may one day return to the wild in the territory.
“Recent sightings of Koalas very close to ACT borders have given hope that we may already have as-yet undetected populations, or that they may re-establish in the near future.
“The Native Species Conservation Plan for the Gula seeks to identify Gula presence, assess habitat quality, investigate the feasibility of a breeding program, and support greater community engagement.
“Our goal is to protect and revive Koala populations with healthy habitats across Ngunnawal Country, and support the national recovery of the species.
“Earlier this year we consulted with Canberrans on the draft plan, and we have had overwhelming support for our approach. We heard from the community that there is a strong desire for greater outreach in schools, more legal protection of habitat and a greater involvement of rural landholders and we have incorporated this feedback into the final plan.
“The Native Species Conservation Plan is an exciting and much needed next step towards protecting and conserving this iconic species. Work is already underway with ACT Government ecologists and rangers monitoring specific sites for Koala presence by using sound recorders to capture male Koala calls.”
For more information on the Native Species Conservation Plan for the Gula (Koala), visit the ACT Environment website.