It is estimated that at the time of the European Settlement in 1788 an average of 10 million koalas populated Australia. Since this time the population of koalas has dramatically decreased and the number of koalas today is fewer then 100 000.
After the European Settlement, the population has increased over time and approximately 50% of the koalas habitat has been decimated for farms, homes etc.
Today with the decrease population of koalas the Government has committed $2.5mil over 5 years as part of the Koala Response Strategy which aims to conserve the koalas and protect them from becoming extinct. In Queensland as of April 2012 the koala was declared as 'Vulnerable' across the whole state and under the EPRC Act the koala is listed as a threatened specie.
Brisbanetimes.com.au (2008) SEQ koala numbers plummet: study - Queensland - brisbanetimes.com.au. [online] Available at: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/queensland/seq-koala-numbers-plummet-study/2007/09/10/1189276579015.html [Accessed: 3 Apr 2013].
Ehp.qld.gov.au (1992) Koala research and monitoring (Department of Environment and Heritage Protection). [online] Available at: http://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/wildlife/koalas/research/ [Accessed: 3 Apr 2013].
Ehp.qld.gov.au (2006) Koala legislation and policy (Department of Environment and Heritage Protection). [online] Available at: http://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/wildlife/koalas/legislation/index.html [Accessed: 3 Apr 2013].
Savethekoala.com (2012) The Koala - Endangered or Not? | Australian Koala Foundation. [online] Available at: https://www.savethekoala.com/about-koalas/koala-endangered-or-not [Accessed: 3 Apr 2013].
Savethekoala.com (n.d.) Threats to the Koala | Australian Koala Foundation. [online] Available at: https://www.savethekoala.com/about-koalas/threats-koala [Accessed: 3 Apr 2013].
Savethekoala.com (n.d.) Koala Habitat | Australian Koala Foundation. [online] Available at: https://www.savethekoala.com/about-koalas/koala-habitat [Accessed: 3 Apr 2013].
Unknown. (2013) Untitled. [online] Available at: http://blackboard.qut.edu.au/bbcswebdav/pid-4754707-dt-content-rid-294779_1/courses/UDB101_13se1/UDB101-Lecture-Wk05.pdf [Accessed: 3 Apr 2013].