There is an Australian version of the Twelve Days of Christmas and this version is used as inspiration for today's challenge.
On the 4th day
of Christmas
My true love sent to me
4 koalas cuddling,
3 kookaburras laughing
2 pink galahs
And an emu up a gum tree.
Koalas are regarded as a vulnerable species across the entire Australia. But it has been suggested that it should be regarded as critically endangered in South East Queensland, where we used to live. Koalas were listed as vulnerable under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act in 2012. Since then nothing has happened and there is no legislation anywhere in Australia that can protect koalas and their habitat.
Koalas are in serious decline suffering from the effects of habitat destruction, attacks from pets such as dogs, bushfires and road accidents. The Australian Koala Foundation estimates that there are less than 100,000 koalas left in the wild.
You can find wild koalas in four states in Australia - Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia - each of these states has its own legislation. And the Federal State has handed over the responsibility to the states and the state passes over the responsiblity to the local government where most decisions about what happens to koala habitat are made. In short, it is very difficult to protect a species that may need protection.
Today's challenge is to find an animals in your local area that may need protecting. Can you make a short slogan to raise people's awareness about the animal and the problems they are facing?
The poster below sums up the problem that koalas are facing in just a few words.
Photo: Koala