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The Australian platypus population has shrunk so sharply over the past 30 years that researchers are calling for these famous duck-billed mammals to be included on the “endangered species” list.
Several experts from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) sent a series of recommendations to the New South Wales (NSW) government on Monday, following a report assessing the risk of extinction for this species, writes agerpres.ro.
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According to the UNSW report, the habitat of this amphibious, beaver-tailed beaver living in eastern Australia has declined by up to 22% over the past 30 years.
Scientists estimate that platypus populations have declined by more than 50% due to historical deforestation, regularization of river courses and extreme drought.
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The severity and increasing frequency of vegetation fires is also one of the determining factors.
“The platypus continues to face permanent threats in its habitat. Unsustainable water abstraction and deforestation will continue to put pressure on freshwater ecosystems and lead to further decline in the future,” said the study’s lead author. Gilad Bino.
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This species is currently listed as “Near Threatened” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), but is not considered endangered under the Australian Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Act (EPBC).
The change in classification will increase the focus on events that could endanger the species and prioritize its monitoring.
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“It would also mean more attention to the steps we can take to improve the situation,” said Richard Kingsford, director of the Center for Ecosystem Science at UNSW.
The recommendation to the Australian authorities was drafted in collaboration with the Australian Conservation Foundation, WWF-Australia and Humane Society International.
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On Monday, Australian Environment Minister Sussan Ley announced a program to protect the koala with an A $ 18 million ($ 13 million) budget, which includes a range of measures to support conservation efforts after devastating wildfires. from the period 2019-2020.
The combined koala population of Queensland, NSW and the Australian Capital Territory is currently considered “vulnerable”, which has contributed to the allocation of resources for this species.
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However, several environmental experts have pushed for more appropriate legislation and to upgrade the status of the species from “vulnerable” to “threatened”.
They warned of the risk of the koala going extinct in NSW – the state most affected by the fires – by 2050 if “urgent government action is not taken.”
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Under the protection program, $ 2 million will be used for an annual national koala population audit.
The audit will use techniques such as droppings monitoring, drones, citizen science initiatives and dog detectors.
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“Despite the attention that the koala population has been surrounded, the researchers tell us there is a serious lack of data on where the populations actually are, their condition and what is the best way to help them recover. devastating fires, ” Ley said from the ABC national television station.
The program also includes funding for habitat restoration, research and healthcare.
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According to a report by a NSW upper house committee, recent wildfires that devastated more than 5.5 million hectares of land in the Australian state killed at least 5,000 koalas and the flames nearly destroyed one. a quarter of the public habitat in which these animals live.
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