About this Episode
Australia has created the Great Koala National Park on the east coast of New South Wales to help protect endangered koalas and other threatened species. Covering nearly 5,000 square kilometres, the park is expected to safeguard around 20 percent of the state’s wild koala population.
Koalas are listed as endangered in several parts of Australia, including New South Wales, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory. Their population has declined due to habitat loss, urban expansion, road traffic, disease, dog attacks and increasingly severe bushfires.
The new park connects existing protected areas and forest corridors, helping koalas move between habitats, find mates and maintain healthy populations. Conservation groups say protecting eucalyptus forests and improving habitat connectivity are key measures for the species’ long-term survival.
