Koalas are ‘functionally extinct’

[Still Waters]

Today the Australian Koala Foundation announced they believe "there are no more than 80,000 koalas in Australia", making the species "functionally extinct".

While this number is dramatically lower than the most recent academic estimates, there's no doubt koala numbers in many places are in steep decline.

It's hard to say exactly how many koalas are still remaining in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory, but they are highly vulnerable to threats including deforestation, disease and the effects of climate change.

Once a koala population falls below a critical point it can no longer produce the next generation, leading to extinction.

https://www.sciencealert.com/experts-announce-koalas-are-functionally-extinct-here-s-what-that-means

https://theconversation.com/a-report-claims-koalas-are-functionally-extinct-but-what-does-that-mean-116665