Download Phascolarctos cinereus, Koala

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™
ISSN 2307-8235 (online)
IUCN 2008: T16892A6549393
Phascolarctos cinereus, Koala
Assessment by: Gordon, G., Menkhorst, P., Robinson, T., Lunney, D., Martin, R. &
Ellis, M.
View on www.iucnredlist.org
Citation: Gordon, G., Menkhorst, P., Robinson, T., Lunney, D., Martin, R. & Ellis, M. 2008.
Phascolarctos cinereus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2008: e.T16892A6549393.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T16892A6549393.en
Copyright: © 2015 International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
Reproduction of this publication for educational or other non-commercial purposes is authorized without prior written
permission from the copyright holder provided the source is fully acknowledged.
Reproduction of this publication for resale, reposting or other commercial purposes is prohibited without prior written
permission from the copyright holder. For further details see Terms of Use.
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is produced and managed by the IUCN Global Species Programme, the IUCN
Species Survival Commission (SSC) and The IUCN Red List Partnership. The IUCN Red List Partners are: BirdLife
International; Botanic Gardens Conservation International; Conservation International; Microsoft; NatureServe; Royal
Botanic Gardens, Kew; Sapienza University of Rome; Texas A&M University; Wildscreen; and Zoological Society of London.
If you see any errors or have any questions or suggestions on what is shown in this document, please provide us with
feedback so that we can correct or extend the information provided.
THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™
Taxonomy
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Animalia
Chordata
Mammalia
Diprotodontia
Phascolarctidae
Taxon Name: Phascolarctos cinereus (Goldfuss, 1817)
Common Name(s):
• English:
Koala
Assessment Information
Red List Category & Criteria:
Least Concern ver 3.1
Year Published:
2008
Date Assessed:
June 30, 2008
Justification:
Listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, presumed large population, and because it is
unlikely to be declining at nearly the rate required to qualify for listing in a threatened category. This is a
high profile species that varies greatly in population size and density across its range, and requires
intensive management in areas where it is considered a pest species, as well as in those regions where it
is known to be in decline.
Previously Published Red List Assessments
1996 – Lower Risk/near threatened (LR/nt)
Geographic Range
Range Description:
The Koala was formerly common throughout the broad band of forests and woodlands dominated by
Eucalyptus spp. extending from north Queensland to the south-eastern corner of mainland South
Australia, Australia (Maxwell et al. 1996). It currently ranges from northeastern, central, and
southeastern Queensland with patchy populations in western areas, to eastern New South Wales
including the coastal strip and highlands of the Great Dividing Range, the western plains and related
riparian environments where suitable habitat occurs, Victoria, and southeastern South Australia. The
geographic range has contracted significantly due to loss of large areas of habitat since European
settlement. In Queensland, extent of occurrence and area of occupancy have contracted by about 30%
(Gordon et al. 2006).
It has been introduced to at least 12 islands including: Kangaroo (South Australia, 450,000 ha), French
(Victoria, 17,470 ha), Phillip (Victoria, 10,116 ha), and Magnetic (Queensland, 5,200 ha) (Abbott and
Burbidge 1995). It has also been introduced within the mainland in the Adelaide Region and along the
Murray River (Maxwell et al. 1996).
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Phascolarctos cinereus – published in 2008.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T16892A6549393.en
1
Country Occurrence:
Native: Australia
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Phascolarctos cinereus – published in 2008.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T16892A6549393.en
2
Distribution Map
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Phascolarctos cinereus – published in 2008.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T16892A6549393.en
3
Population
Koalas are uncommon and patchily distributed in most of their Queensland range, but are common in
south-eastern Queensland. Queensland populations have persisted where habitat occurs, although
fluctuating markedly in size (Gordon and Hrdina 2005; Gordon et al. 2006). They are widespread and
common in Victoria. In New South Wales, they are known to be common in the Pilliga (the species'
stronghold is along the north coast), but they are uncommon elsewhere. All South Australian
populations became extinct by 1920, and current populations have been introduced outside their
original range with the exception of the extreme south-east of the state. The introduced populations
have expanded and caused severe environmental damage on Kangaroo Island (current population
estimates on Kangaroo Island are of 28,000 - these animals are highly inbred, resulting from a very small
original source population of 10 animals). The Koala was listed in the 2001 State of the Environment
report of the Commonwealth as one of the eight pest species of Australia.
While remaining populations are widely distributed, habitat fragmentation and modification has
resulted in an increased prevalence of predation, in addition to geographic and genetic isolation
(Maxwell et al. 1996).
Current Population Trend: Unknown
Habitat and Ecology (see Appendix for additional information)
Koalas occupy forests and woodlands where there are acceptable food trees. They are largely nocturnal
and feed almost exclusively on eucalypts, but preferred food tree species vary with locality and there are
quite distinct regional preferences (Martin et al. 2008). They are able to persist in fragmented habitats,
and even survive in isolated trees across a predominantly agricultural landscape. Females reach sexual
maturity at two years of age and usually give birth to a single young per year. Individual Koalas have
been known to live up to 18 years in the wild, but most live between 10 and 14 years (Martin et al.
2008).
Systems: Terrestrial
Threats (see Appendix for additional information)
Current threats to this species include continued habitat destruction, fragmentation, and modification
(which makes them vulnerable to predation by dogs, vehicle strikes, and other factors), bushfires, and
disease, as well as drought associated mortality in habitat fragments. Public concern for the species is
high. There are management problems with many populations; remnant populations living at high
densities in isolated patches of habitat are at greatest risk (Martin et al. 2008). Effective management of
some of the threats on the mainland could lead to excessive abundance and result in pest problems
similar to those occurring on Kangaroo Island and in parts of Victoria.
The overall distribution of Koalas has been reduced since European settlement. This decline was
primarily due to disease, bushfires, and widespread habitat destruction in the early decades of the 20th
century. Commercial harvesting also took place across the range towards the end of the 19th century and
early 20th century (huge numbers, running into the millions, were killed for their pelts for a large export
industry in Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland). This was banned in Victoria in the 1890s, and it
continued sporadically (and under regulation) in Queensland until 1927 (Hrdina and Gordon 2004).
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Phascolarctos cinereus – published in 2008.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T16892A6549393.en
4
There is no evidence, however, that the early spate of commercial harvesting had any long-term impact
on the overall population.
Conservation Actions (see Appendix for additional information)
This species is present in numerous protected areas. Recommended actions for the species (Maxwell et
al. 1996; Martin and Handasyde 1999; Gordon pers. comm.) include: complete and implement National
Strategy for Conservation of the Koala (currently in draft form); develop appropriate PVA models
applicable to the diversity of habitat types utilised by the species; conduct regional and local surveys of
distribution, assessment of tree preferences and identification of key critical habitat areas for
conservation; formulate and implement detailed regional management plans for the conservation of
these populations; manage populations to prevent over-browsing at some sites in Victoria and South
Australia; develop positive community involvement in Koala conservation and management.
Credits
Assessor(s):
Gordon, G., Menkhorst, P., Robinson, T., Lunney, D., Martin, R. & Ellis, M.
Reviewer(s):
Lamoreux, J. & Hilton-Taylor, C. (Global Mammal Assessment Team)
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Phascolarctos cinereus – published in 2008.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T16892A6549393.en
5
Bibliography
Abbott, I. and Burbidge, A.A. 1995. The occurrence of mammal species on the islands of Australia: a
summary of existing knowledge. CALMScience 1(3): 259-324.
Gordon, G. and Hrdina, F. 2005. Koala and Possum Populations in Queensland during the Harvest Period,
1906-1936. Australian Zoologist 33: 69-99.
Gordon, G., Hrdina, F. and Patterson, R. 2006. Decline in the distribution of the koala Phascolarctos
cinereus in Queensland. Australian Zoologist 33: 345-358.
Hrdina, F. and Gordon, G. 2004. The Koala and Possum Trade in Queensland, 1906-1936. Australian
Zoologist 32: 543-585.
Lee, A. K. and Martin, R. E. 1988. The koala: a natural history. University of NSW Press, Sydney, Australia.
Lee, A. K., Handasyde, K. A. and Sanson, G. D. 1991. The biology of the koala. Surrey Beatty and Sons,
Chipping Norton, Australia.
Martin, R. W. 1989. Draft management plan for the conservation of the Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) in
Victoria. Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research Technical Report Series Number 99..
Martin, R. W. and Handasyde, K. A. 1999. The Koala: Natural History, Biology and Conservation. UNSW
Press, Sydney, Australia.
Martin, R. W., Handasyde, K. A. and Krockenberger, A. 2008. Koala, Phascolarctos cinereus. In: S. Van
Dyck and R. Strahan (eds), The mammals of Australia. Third Edition, pp. 198-201. Reed New Holland,
Sydney, Australia.
Maxwell, S., Burbidge, A. A. and Morris, K. 1996. The 1996 Action Plan for Australian Marsupials and
Monotremes. Australasian Marsupial and Monotreme Specialist Group, IUCN Species Survival
Commission, Gland, Switzerland.
Menkhorst, P. W. 1995. Koala. In: P. W. Menkhorst (ed.), Mammals of Victoria, pp. 85-88. Oxford
University Press, Melbourne, Australia.
Citation
Gordon, G., Menkhorst, P., Robinson, T., Lunney, D., Martin, R. & Ellis, M. 2008. Phascolarctos cinereus.
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2008: e.T16892A6549393.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T16892A6549393.en
Disclaimer
To make use of this information, please check the Terms of Use.
External Resources
For Images and External Links to Additional Information, please see the Red List website.
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Phascolarctos cinereus – published in 2008.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T16892A6549393.en
6
Appendix
Habitats
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Habitat
Season
Suitability
Major
Importance?
1. Forest -> 1.4. Forest - Temperate
-
Suitable
-
1. Forest -> 1.5. Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Dry
-
Suitable
-
2. Savanna -> 2.1. Savanna - Dry
-
Suitable
-
Threats
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Threat
Timing
Scope
Severity
Impact Score
1. Residential & commercial development -> 1.1.
Housing & urban areas
Ongoing
-
-
-
Stresses:
1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.1. Ecosystem conversion
1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation
Ongoing
-
Stresses:
1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation
Ongoing
-
Stresses:
1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation
Past,
unlikely to
return
-
Stresses:
2. Species Stresses -> 2.1. Species mortality
5. Biological resource use -> 5.3. Logging & wood
harvesting -> 5.3.5. Motivation
Unknown/Unrecorded
7. Natural system modifications -> 7.1. Fire & fire
suppression -> 7.1.3. Trend Unknown/Unrecorded
8. Invasive & other problematic species & genes ->
8.1. Invasive non-native/alien species -> 8.1.1.
Unspecified species
-
-
-
-
-
-
Conservation Actions in Place
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Conservation Actions in Place
In-Place Land/Water Protection and Management
Conservation sites identified: Yes, over entire range
Conservation Actions Needed
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Phascolarctos cinereus – published in 2008.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T16892A6549393.en
7
Conservation Actions Needed
1. Land/water protection -> 1.1. Site/area protection
4. Education & awareness -> 4.3. Awareness & communications
Research Needed
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Research Needed
1. Research -> 1.2. Population size, distribution & trends
1. Research -> 1.3. Life history & ecology
1. Research -> 1.6. Actions
Additional Data Fields
Population
Population severely fragmented: No
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Phascolarctos cinereus – published in 2008.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T16892A6549393.en
8
The IUCN Red List Partnership
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is produced and managed by the IUCN Global Species
Programme, the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) and The IUCN Red List Partnership. The IUCN
Red List Partners are: BirdLife International; Botanic Gardens Conservation International; Conservation
International; Microsoft; NatureServe; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Sapienza University of Rome; Texas
A&M University; Wildscreen; and Zoological Society of London.
THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™