Moderate Heat Poses Growing Threat to Koalas, Study Finds

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Sydney: According to a recent Australian study, koalas are at a far higher risk of death on even moderately hot days. This suggests that climate change is becoming a greater threat to the already vulnerable species.

Nearly 12,000 koala rescue, hospitalisation, and mortality records collected from New South Wales between 2000 and 2022 were examined by researchers. Even when conditions weren't considered severe, they found that the probability of koalas getting sick or dying increased significantly when average maximum temperatures during a week reached roughly 27 degrees Celsius.

According to the study, koalas face up to 3.5 times higher risks of requiring care or dying when temperatures went above 30 degrees Celsius. Long-term exposure to mild heat can lead to dehydration, heat stress, and limited availability to food, according to researchers.

They cautioned that koala populations, especially those already affected by disease and habitat loss, may face increased stress due to increasingly frequent and intense warm spells associated with climate change. In order to help the species adapt to rising temperatures, they recommended for more effective conservation measures, such as the preservation of water sources and trees that provide shade.