Founder(s) | Steve Brown Barry Scott |
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Founded | 17 January 1986 |
Location | Brisbane, Australia |
Key people | Deborah Tabart, OAM |
Focus | Long-term conservation of the wild koala |
Method | Research, education, legislation, mapping and planning |
Website | www.savethekoala.com |
The Australian Koala Foundation (AKF) is an international not-for-profit scientific organisation that aims to diminish the threats to the survival of koalas and in doing so raise the awareness of the global community to help save endangered fauna and flora. It is the principal non-profit, non-governmental organisation dedicated to the conservation and effective management of the wild koala and its habitat.
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Two veterinary scientists, Barry Scott and Steve Brown, registered Australian Koala Association Inc in 1986, and subsequently changed the name to Australian Koala Foundation Inc. The term "Inc" was later dropped. Chief Executive Officer, Deborah Tabart OAM, has headed the Foundation for over 20 years, earning the international title of the Koala Woman.
In 1980s, it was believed that the major threat to koalas was a disease known as chlamydia. The initial goal of the AKF was to find a cure for chlamydia. It was soon discovered that habitat destruction was the main cause of the koalas' problems. The focus of the AKF was adjusted accordingly.
Today, the Australian Koala Foundation use science, politics and a global support base to rally for change at the legislative, developmental and personal level. September is Save the Koala Month which is the primary time of year that the Australian Koala Foundation work to raise awareness and funds for the plight of the koala. With only around 100 000 koalas left in the wild and local extinctions occurring regularly, the fight to protect habitat and manage koala populations remain the goals of the Foundation.
"No Tree... No Me" is the slogan for the Australian Koala Foundation. "No Tree... No Me" was coined by the Australian Koala Foundation’s creative supporter Dick Marks in 1994 and has become an appropriate slogan for the Australian Koala Foundation as they focus on the fight for habitat conservation of the koala. Koala's main source of food and nutrients comes from the leaves of eucalyptus trees, and they live in the trees - so the AKF is trying to save as many as they can.
The long-term survival of the koala depends on the retention and effective management of suitable habitat to support koalas in the wild. The future of this species will not be sustainable in captivity.
The AKF has several ongoing projects dedicated to saving the wild koala through conserving its habitat and raising funds to enable the AKF to continue running despite its not-for-profit policy. These include:
It is safe to say that the AKF has made a difference in its 20 years of operation, and all without government funding. Its most outstanding achievements are as follows.
The Koala only lives on special Bamboo Leaves and Eucalyptus plants. Currently these are being cut down for making space and much of these species are dying.
The AKF runs an annual fundraising campaign called Save the Koala Month each September. Save the Koala Day is held on the last Friday of that month. People from all over the world are encouraged to help sell Save the Koala Month merchandise such as temporary tattoos, stickers and badges, whether as individuals, businesses or school groups.
Anyone who wishes to assist in fundraising for the AKF is invited to fill out an order form on their website. Awards are include a highest fundraiser prize and a free foster koala for one year for those who raise more than $200.