On Saturday January 29^th, the Australian government pledged to spend $35 million over the next four years to protect koala habitats after they were destroyed in the horrific aftermath of the 2020 brushfires.

The devasting brushfires severely damaged the Koala population. It has declined 33-61%, according to SBS news, an Australian news outlet. The World Wildlife Fund reported an estimate that more than 60,000 koalas were killed, injured, or affected by the brushfires.

“They’re on the road to extinction with population numbers dwindling and their habitat disappearing but pouring money into the problem isn’t going to solve anything unless we address the root cause of their decline which is habitat loss and climate change,” said Josey Sharrad, International Fund for Animal Welfare campaign manager.

Natural disasters aren’t the only thing affecting these animals. They are also facing illness due to chlamydia, which is a sexually transmitted disease that can cause blindness and painful cysts in the animals’ reproductive tract. Scientists are now researching and testing vaccines to help protect the animals.

Koalas are a species at risk of extinction and are listed as “vulnerable” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUNC) Red List. The new initiative aims to restore habitats, monitor populations, and boost research into koala health.

“Koalas are one of Australia’s most-loved and best-recognised icons, both here at home and across the world, and we are committed to protecting them for generations to come,” said Australia’s Prime Minister, Scott Morrison.