Australian gov't urged to list koala as vulnerable species

CANBERRA, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- Conservation groups on Wednesday called on the Australian federal government to immediately list the koala as vulnerable based on new data showing a sharp decline in the animal's numbers.

The Australian Koala Foundation (AKF) said it has research showing the population of koalas on the mainland has fallen to a maximum of 80,000 individuals.

Scientists from the AKF met with the government's Threatened Species Scientific Committee (TSSC) in Canberra on Tuesday to discuss the issue.

From its latest survey, the AKF estimates the mainland koala population has slipped to 43,000 to 80,000, down sharply from its 2003 estimate of up to 100,000 individuals.

AKF chief executive officer Deborah Tabart believes that based on this new data federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett should use his powers under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC) to list the koala as vulnerable.

"As a matter of urgency and as the federal custodian of the koala, Minister Garrett must use his `precautionary powers' under the EPBC legislation to step in and protect this species," Tabart said.

A spokesperson for Garrett said the minister would make his decision based on advice from the TSSC, and it would be inappropriate to act before they had finished their assessment.

"There is a process underway through which the TSSC are assessing the status of the koala. The minister will make decisions based on the outcome of their consideration," he said.

The TSSC last reviewed the status of the koala in 2006 and found that it did not meet any of the five criteria necessary for listing.