Blinky Bill joins move to end native forest logging as Koala crisis heightens

After alarming new data shows major Koala population decline across their habitats, one of Australia’s most iconic book characters, Blinky Bill has joined the Bob Brown Foundation’s national campaign to end native forest logging across Australia. The foundation is ramping up the campaign for Koala protection calling for an end to native forest logging.

“Protecting native forests for Koalas is a solution to the rapid decline of Australia’s international icon. Koala habitat remains threatened by logging in NSW while the Koala is on the brink of extinction. Morrison’s Federal Government and NSW Government needs to secure protection of all Koala habitat by ending native forest logging,” Bob Brown Foundation’s Koala Campaign Organiser Doro Babeck said.

“With Blinky Bill we want to rekindle the connection with generations of Australians who forged a love of Koalas and their critical forest habitat. Our campaign is a plea with Blinky’s voice that Koalas and their forest homes are being lost and need urgent protection,” said Doro Babeck

“According to the latest report on Koala population figures, released by the Australian Koala Foundation, there has been a 30% decline in total population since 2018 with a 41% decline of Koalas in NSW alone. There could now be as low as 30,000 Koalas left in the wild. Logging, mining and urban sprawl are the main reasons driving the koalas to extinction. Currently, logging is occurring in NSW and Victoria in unburnt forests, containing koala habitat,” Doro Babeck said.

“Australia urgently needs the protection of remaining native forests from demolition. Only 8% of Australia’s original forest cover is remaining since invasion in 1788. Just 4% of the original forest cover are protected in national parks and conservation areas,” Doro Babeck said

The majority of Australians support an end to native forest logging. A new poll commissioned by the Bob Brown Foundation found 65% of Australians support an end to native forest logging. “Providing secure protection for all Koala habitat would ensure Koalas are around for future generations of children not only in story books. Blinky Bill will inspire people to join our campaign and help save these iconic creatures,” said Doro Babeck.

First published in 1933, and never been out of print since Blinky has brought stories of Australia’s native animals and their lives in the forests to generations of children. Author and illustrator Dorothy Wall created the cheeky Koala character and Bob Brown Foundation is proud to have him as the face of a new call to end native forest logging and protect koalas in the wild. The Foundation has started a new crowd funding promotion to fund the campaign by producing Blinky Bill merchandise. All funds raised will be used to place Blinky Bill around NSW on billboards, street posters, and newspaper advertisements, rallying Koala protectors to join our call for an end to native forest logging and secure protection for all Koala habitat.