The bodies of a mother and baby koala have been found, still clinging to each other, south-west of Brisbane as animal protection groups beg for awareness.
The koalas were believed to have been hit on Redbank Plains Rd, Redbank Plains, early on Tuesday morning before being reported to the local Ipswich Koala Protection Society (IKPS) who said the deaths came as a “timely reminder”.
“This mum and bub were reported to IKPS this morning,” the organisation said.
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“(This is a) timely reminder that this is peak breeding season and koalas are moving around.
“Please slow down and be aware of all wildlife all year around. They are sharing their backyard with us, not the other way around.”
IKPS, which hand raises and rehabilitates orphaned koalas as well as other native wildlife, said Ipswich has a healthy population of koalas, however the animals have been declared endangered since 2022.
“They need our help and protection now before it’s too late.”
Heartbroken locals commented on a post made by IKPS, with one saying they were “sick of the carnage”.
“Sick of the carnage, why don’t people care more, they are endangered almost to the point of being critical.”
Another said that the deaths “broke” them: “This broke me. Every single animal I see or rescue or take off the road hurts so much.”
“This is so sad and things need to change urgently,” added a third.
The Queensland Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI) said that koalas are facing many threats in Australia.
“The biggest threat to koalas is habitat loss,” they said. “Much of the koala’s habitat in Queensland overlaps with areas where significant clearing has occurred, and continues to occur, for urban, industrial and rural development.”
They said that after habitat clearing, the most serious threat to koalas is being hit by cars.
In South East Queensland, an average of almost 300 koalas are killed each year by motor vehicles, based on wildlife hospital records in the period 1997 to early 2011.
If you find injured wildlife, you can contact RSPCA on 1300ANIMAL.