Latest news with #LindaSparrow
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Drivers warned after 'heartbreaking' find next to road at Aussie tourist town
Australians are once again being urged to slow down when driving through known koala habitats, after a previously rescued five-year-old female was struck and killed along a notorious stretch of road on the east coast. Wildlife advocates say the animal is the second to be killed in Bangalow, just outside Byron Bay in the New South Wales Northern Rivers region, in recent times. The death is particularly concerning to rescuers, with the area down to just a couple hundred individuals, according to recent estimates. Since European colonisation, koala habitat in Australia has been devastated, with approximately 29 million hectares (54 per cent) of forests and woodlands destroyed in NSW alone. Even in recent years, deforestation has continued at an alarming pace. In 2020, 53,800 hectares of vital koala habitat were lost to logging and development, with the animals' population taking a further hit during the 2019-2020 bushfires, in which up to 19 million hectares were burnt. A WWF-Australia assessment estimated approximately 8,400 koalas died on the NSW mid-north coast alone, representing up to 30 per cent of that region's koala population. Combined with road trauma, their numbers continue to dwindle. On Wednesday, conservationist Linda Sparrow, of Bangalow Koalas, urged drivers to take the simple step of slowing down as she shared "distressing images" of the latest fatality. "We lost another female koala this morning on Bangalow Road, just down from Old Bangalow Road, Byron Bay," she said. "There are roadworks up at the intersection of Old Bangalow Road with a 40km speed limit. Please stop speeding along this stretch; this is the second female koala killed along this stretch in recent times. Linda branded the latest fatality "heartbreaking for rescuers, heartbreaking for Byron Shire koalas" who she said "are up against the odds". "It appears both times the koalas have come under the barrier along the road and hit straight away. This koala was rescued from a swimming pool near Arkawal National Park three years ago," she added. Speaking to Yahoo News, Linda has argued the "world is watching" when it comes to koala conservation, and implored governments and the public to rise to the challenge and take action. "I can't imagine a world where there are no koalas. We have to step up and we have to protect them, because by protecting koalas, we're actually helping all of us," she said recently. It comes amid continual warnings that koalas are facing extinction in NSW by 2050. Linda is currently embarking on a bold mission to repopulate the area with trees, in a bid to create a "koala corridor" — an interconnected network of habitat where koalas can roam freely and safely, far from the threat of humans. In May, she hit the incredible milestone of 450,000 trees planted. Spanning 161 plantings across 121 properties in seven local shires, the community-driven initiative has become one of the region's most impactful conservation efforts. With just thousands of trees remaining to hit the half-a-million mark by the end of the year, Bangalow Koalas is calling on individuals, communities, and corporate sponsors to "help us cross the finish line". Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Incredible two year change on Aussie property amid critical fight: 'The world is watching'
Koalas are facing a crisis in Australia. Since European colonisation, their habitat has been devastated, with approximately 29 million hectares (54 per cent) of forests and woodlands destroyed in NSW alone. Even in recent years, deforestation has continued at an alarming pace. In 2020, 53,800 hectares of vital koala habitat were lost to logging and development. With the Northern Rivers region bearing the brunt of this destruction, the future of Australia's arguably most iconic animal seems uncertain. Yet amid this bleak reality, hope is sprouting — thanks to passionate conservationists like Linda Sparrow. As president of Bangalow Koalas, Sparrow is leading efforts to reverse the damage. In collaboration with local volunteers and organisations like WWF, she has spearheaded the replanting of 413,000 trees across 115 properties in the region (through 155 plantings), creating a critical lifeline for koalas. Speaking to Yahoo News, Sparrow said her ultimate goal is to establish a "koala wildlife corridor" — an interconnected network of habitats where koalas can roam freely and safely, far from the threat of humans. And Sparrow is well on her way to achieving the lofty goal. "The world us watching us," she told Yahoo News Australia. "I can't imagine a world where there's no koalas. We have to step up and we have to protect them, because by protecting koalas — we're actually helping all of us." Koalas are a vital part of the Australian ecosystem. They help maintain the health of eucalyptus forests by feeding on specific trees, promoting natural forest regeneration. By protecting koalas and their habitats, we are also ensuring that these ecosystems thrive, supporting other species and maintaining a balance in the food chain. Incredibly 'rare' discovery in Aussie bush by sniffer dog Plea to Aussie drivers after tiny find on country road Travelling influencers delete video of 'abhorrent' koala trick after backlash Koala habitats, like the forests and woodlands they live in, play a key role in carbon storage. By protecting these forests, we're helping mitigate climate change by maintaining natural carbon sinks, which absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Healthy forests help regulate temperatures, improve air quality, and reduce the risk of extreme weather events. Sparrow lives in Bangalow and it's where a lot of her work is focussed. But just north across the Queensland border, she's recently seen enormous success in just a couple of years. Sharing incredible pictures, she explained what was once a bare, steep paddock in the middle of a macadamia plantation now flourishes as genuine koala habitat, after 1,600 trees were planted in 2020. "There were three different koalas using those trees (when the area was last monitored) — they're definitely using the trees. There's scratches, there's scat, broken branches, there's all sorts of evidence," she said. "And those trees aren't even two years old, but the more you put in the ground, the more chance koalas have got. We can't keep up with the rate of logging going on in state forests and all the trees that are indiscriminately being cut down. "Because you can rescue and rehabilitate koalas all you like, but if there's no habitat for them, then there's no hope." Sparrow now hopes to plant another 500,000 trees by the end of 2025 – and it's not only koalas that stand to benefit. "We're planting for a whole host of other native species. There's many, so many, animals and birds and insects that benefit from what we're doing." Sparrow's work is made possible thanks to collaborations with WWF-Australia Koalas Forever, with trees funded by One Tree Planted as well as the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. Anybody who wishes to donate to the efforts can do so here. Sparrow added that people are more than welcome to join the efforts on the ground, too. By preserving koalas, Sparrow said, we're not just saving a single species — we're protecting entire ecosystems that support our climate, water resources, economy, and health. It's a win for the environment, wildlife, and us. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
