The Australian Koala Foundation says Australia has lost about 30 percent of its koalas over the past three years. The number of koalas is getting so small because of the loss of living space, and being killed by cars, as well as dying from illness. The Foundation says droughts, wildfires and development projects also played a part in the drop in the koala population. They are calling on the government to do more to protect the environment.
The group says the koala population has dropped to less than 58,000 this year from more than 80,000 in 2018. The state of New South Wales, where the numbers have dropped by 41 percent, lost more koalas than other places.
Deborah Tabart, leader of the Australian Koala Foundation, said only one area in the study was thought to have more than 5,000 koalas. Some areas were believed to have as few as 5 or 10. Tabart said the country needs a koala protection law. She added, "What we're worried about is places like western New South Wales. The drought over the last ten years has just had this result—rivers were nearly dry for years. As a result, river red gum plants, which are the lifeblood of koalas, died."
The loss in New South Wales became more serious after large forest areas were destroyed by wildfires in late 2019 and early 2020. And some of those areas already had no koalas.
Land clearing by road builders has also destroyed the koala's environment. "I think everyone gets it, we've got to change. But if those machines keep working, then I really fear for the koalas," Tabart said.
The state of New South Wales has lost of its koala population this year.
A. about 30% B. about 40% C. about 50% D. about 60%
Which of the following disasters happened first in the state of New South Wales?
A. Drought. B. Flood. C. Wildfires. D. Earthquakes.
The reporter tells us about the fact of the koalas in Australia mainly by .
A. showing some pictures B. listing some numbers
C. playing some videos D. using other reports
What does this passage mainly talk about?
