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Kangaroo Island Wildlife Network volunteers, alongside other local wildlife groups, have rescued numerous injured koalas from logging operations and are urgently calling on the South Australian government to temporarily halt logging activities until a humane, strategic plan can be devised to protect the koalas and other species residing in these trees. Despite reporting the situation to relevant government bodies, there has been no satisfactory response. The surrounding bushland is still recovering from the Black Summer bushfires, unable to accommodate the influx of koalas displaced by the felled plantations. Scientists have highlighted the importance of Kangaroo Island's koalas in potentially saving the species from extinction on the mainland. With volunteers exhausted from their efforts, a petition is circulating, urging support for a temporary pause on logging to prevent further harm to these iconic Australian animals. Thank you to all who signed the petition and offered to help! It made a difference!

Further Information on New Legislation

National Parks and Wildlife (Wildlife) (Protected Animals) Amendment Regulations 2024​

South Australia Government Gazette March 7, 2024​

UPDATE AUGUST 2024

Dear supporters,

Thank you all again for your support, signatures and shares of the horrific news which came to light regarding koalas living in Kangaroo Island plantations earlier this year.

It has been a long and challenging time for KIWN, and knowing we had the support of thousands behind us has made us stronger.

Unfortunately, our call to action has not yet provided everything we had hoped for, however, we have had a few wins so far.

1. KiLAND staff is bringing injured or displaced koalas to wildlife rescue organisations more regularly, many of which were assessed by our vet team and deemed fit for release back into the wild almost immediately (obviously away from plantation activity) or with minor injuries with minimal time in care before release
2. KiLAND is notifying KIWN when they change logging locations so we are aware of the type of growth within a burned or unburned plantation and we can adjust our ability to respond within that particular terrain to injured or displaced animals
3. KIWN has met with the Department of Environment & Water as well as independent consultants around the new island wide koala management plan. This is still in the consultation phase.

We are aware of some other potential projects from other organisations that may help provide some small scale solutions but these are being finalised and still remain confidential.

We will continue to monitor this situation closely and will update you if/when any changes occur or if you can assist us in any way. Until then, we will continue our daily emergency response wildlife rescue activities, habitat restoration projects and education workshops across Kangaroo Island.
 

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