Victorian Koala Crisis: Population Halved in New Estimate, Chronic Ill Health Widespread

The Victorian government withheld a major scientific report for over a year revealing that the state’s koala population is roughly half the size of previous estimates and suffering from alarmingly poor health.

Completed in June 2024 by the Arthur Rylah Institute in collaboration with university scientists, the review estimated 217,000 koalas in 2023 and 224,800 in 2024—a sharp drop from the long-cited figure of 460,000. The report attributes the discrepancy to improved survey methodology rather than a sudden die-off.

Health assessments conducted on 68 koalas across seven regions found 43 percent were in such dire condition they were euthanized on welfare grounds. Animals exhibited high rates of dental disease, chlamydia-related urinary infections, and poor coat condition.

“We have a crisis in our koala populations in Victoria because we have a very concerning level of poor health and welfare,” said wildlife veterinarian Leanne Wicker, a report author. She noted that high-density populations on French Island and in western Victoria had masked a broader decline.

Deakin University ecologist Desley Whisson emphasized that while the statewide number appears substantial, most koalas are concentrated in small areas. “There’s large parts of the state where koalas occur at low densities and are probably in poor health,” she said, warning that populations could be disappearing undetected.

The government released the report Wednesday as Environment Minister Jaclyn Symes announced $2.6 million for habitat restoration and research into koala health and genetics.

Critics condemned the delay. Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell said the findings paint a grim picture, while Koala Alliance spokesperson Jessica Robertson called the funding “a calculated political rescue mission for Labor, not for koalas.”

The report also found 23 percent of Victoria’s koalas now inhabit blue gum plantations, where they exist at unnaturally high densities. Changes to plantation management could significantly impact population numbers.

A department spokesperson stated the government had been consulting with agencies and external groups since receiving the report to design response projects, and that the timing of the release had not hindered ongoing management work.

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