Koalas officially named endangered in eastern Australia due to drought, bush fires, and development. Scientists estimate without intervention koala are at risk of extinction by 2050. Climate-driven weather events, development, and land-clearing for agriculture has removed koalas habitat. Deadly bush fires of 2019 and 2020 also caused koalas habitat to be lost. 60,000 koalas were killed or injured during the bush fires. Drought, heat waves, and lack of drinking water also contributed to lost koala habitat.
Conservation groups are mobilizing after the reclassification to do their part to save the koalas. Laws need to change to stop land clearing and development. Reclassifying a species is one step towards saving the koalas. Laws protecting their habitat needs to happen next.
https://www.npr.org/2022/02/11/1080081190/koalas-endangered-australia