[앵커]
Analysts say that Australia’s representative animal, the koala, will face extinction by 2050 due to wildfires and sexually transmitted diseases.
Animal relief groups are taking a variety of activities, but their numbers are rapidly declining.
Reporter Kim Seon-hee reports.
[기자]
A giant koala in the shape of a skull appeared in the middle of a street in Melbourne, Australia.
He groans as if in pain.
Protesters in skull costumes called for an end to the climate problem, saying koalas are dying.
Australia’s koala population is rapidly declining due to urbanization and frequent wildfires due to climate crisis.
About 5,000 koalas have been killed in wildfires, particularly in the past two years.
[데이비드 펠른 / 시드니대 야생 동물학 교수 : 더 많은 나무가 베어지고 더 많은 개발이 이루어지고 있으며 거대한 화재도 겪고 있습니다. 이런 것들이 코알라뿐 아니라 비슷한 습성을 지닌 모든 동물에게 큰 영향을 끼칠 것입니다.]
Chlamydia, a sexually transmitted disease fatal to koalas, is also spreading rapidly.
It is a disease caused by weakened immunity due to wildfires and rising temperature, and in some areas, it has increased 8 times in 13 years.
Analysts say that Australia’s koalas could be on the verge of extinction from 2050 if this continues.
The Australian government has taken action, including a $193 million koala conservation fund over the next five years.
However, it is lukewarm in responding to the most important climate crisis.
At the recent United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, it has been criticized for not participating in the reduction of methane gas in order to protect its livestock industry.
This is YTN Kim Seon-hee.
YTN Kim Seon-hee (sunny@ytn.co.kr)
[저작권자(c) YTN & YTN plus 무단전재 및 재배포 금지]
.
.png?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1)
