Chlamydia detected in Sydney’s only disease-free koala population

"The koalas were tested after they were found in Appin in south-western Sydney in September with injuries suggesting they had both been hit by cars." >>

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/mar/20/chlamydia-detected-in-sydneys-only-disease-free-koala-population
#Koalas #roads #cars #Sydney #AppinRoad #roadtrauma

The koala is an icon for Australia

Images of politicians and tourists seen cuddling the threatened marsupial are ubiquitous. The mascot, usually placed on a stump, has to pose and represent the 'brand' Australia.

Due to habitat destruction the animals are deprived of a living habitat and have to flee. The fragmented habitat they have to negotiate is crisscrossed with roads and dangerous canines.

The verge of the roads and the gutter is the koala's new designated home. The slow arboreal animal has to face speedy cars, trucks and pet dogs. The industrial destruction of biodiversity, native forest logging, has the largest kill-score. In one case the “koala massacre” killed 40 in one 'harvesting' operation.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/feb/03/koala-massacre-animals-reported-starving-or-dead-after-plantation-logging

In Victoria three rotting koalas were found recently beside a country road within a week.
https://au.news.yahoo.com/sad-reason-koalas-were-found-dumped-inside-cardboard-boxes-beside-country-road-061958594.html

Here in Bellingen, where Tuckers Nob public forest is being industrially logged, all images cropping up are of disoriented koalas on daytime roads. There will be nothing left to cuddle soon.

Friends of Tuckers Nob have pictures of Roadside Koalas of the area near the logging sites.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/250189120465227/

Desperate koala looking for a tree
https://www.tiktok.com/@candyandcalvin/video/7322989951233150216

#koalas #FCNSW #TheGreatKoalaNationalPark #NativeForests #NSWLogging #LoggingImpacts #BellingenLogging #WildlifeCrimes #wildlife #cars #crashes #roads #RosesRoad #roadkill #biodiversity #KillingCorridor #Sydney #AppinRoad #SaveTuckersNob

The cost of sprawl: 28 dead koalas
"Since Transport for NSW began assessing Lendlease's proposal five years ago, the surrounding areas’ human and koala populations have increased and that’s led to a growing amount of roadkill. In that time, on Appin Road where the estates are being built, 28 koalas have been hit and killed, according to Lendlease."

"Corridors and underpasses are critical if koalas are to avoid the thousands of extra cars, dogs, cats and other threats the project will bring to the region."

https://au.news.yahoo.com/when-two-crises-collide-outrage-over-plan-to-solve-housing-shortage-083625463.html
#Sydney #AppinRoad #sprawl #Underpasses #cars #dogs #cats #extinction makers vs #Biodiversity