Victoria's Koala Population Declines Sharply, Report Reveals

A comprehensive report on the health of Victoria's koala population, completed in June 2025, has revealed that the animals are in chronically poor health. The study, conducted by the state science agency Arthur Rylah Institute in collaboration with university scientists, indicates that the koala population is approximately half of previous estimates.

The Victorian government has faced criticism for delaying the release of this significant report for over 12 months. The findings underscore a critical decline in the well-being and numbers of koalas in the state, raising urgent concerns for the species' future conservation efforts.