Australia 'must act now to save koalas'

Environmentalists have warned Australian leaders that the nation's iconic marsupial, the koala, is at risk of extinction due to high rates of deforestation.

The World Wildlife Fund said numbers of koalas were plummeting because its habitat was being destroyed at record levels for farming and development.

It said the eastern state of New South Wales was being hit hardest.

Most koalas are found there or in Queensland, but a recent WWF report warned there would be no koalas left in NSW by 2050 if land clearing continues at the current rate.

"It is getting extremely threatened and it is listed as vulnerable and we don't know what will happen, unless policies change, unless governments introduce new rules and regulations and support for farmers who want to preserve forest plots on their property," WWF International president Pavan Sukhdev said.

The WWF calls Australia a "global deforestation front," meaning a place where 80 per cent of global deforestation is projected to occur by 2030.

Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, meet a koala during a visit to Taronga Zoo in Sydney. AAP

It's one of only 11 regions with that label across the world.

The loss of trees in Australia means koalas don't just lose their homes and food, but moving around more makes them more prone to risks like disease, predators, or man-made obstacles like roads.

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The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Nairobi, with fares starting from Dh1,695. The resort can be reached from Nairobi via a 35-minute flight from Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, or by road, which takes at least three hours.

The rooms
Rooms at Fairmont Mount Kenya range from Dh1,870 per night for a deluxe room to Dh11,000 per night for the William Holden Cottage.

Quick pearls of wisdom

Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”

Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”