SYDNEY, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- Declining genetic diversity among Australia's koala populations is putting the iconic species at an increased risk of extinction, research has found.

In a new study, scientists from the University of Sydney created a first-of-its-kind map of the genetic diversity of koalas across Australia's east coast.

It found that koalas in the northeastern state of Queensland are the most genetically diverse, while those in central eastern New South Wales (NSW) have the highest number of genetic variants, making those populations critical for the long-term survival of the species.

Koalas in the southeastern state of Victoria, as well as coastal parts of Queensland and NSW, were found to have the least genetic variation.

Maintaining high genetic diversity enables a species to better adapt to future environmental changes, giving it a better chance of survival.

"The loss of genetic diversity is a worrying trend being exacerbated by urban development, habitat destruction and climate change. Isolated populations are at higher risk of inbreeding, making them more susceptible to disease and vulnerable to future threats," Carolyn Hogg, senior author of the study, said.

"If we want to see koalas in generations to come, we need to act now."

Koalas, one of Australia's most iconic species, were listed as endangered in Queensland, NSW and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) by the federal government in 2022.

At the time, the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) identified the increasing frequency of bushfires and droughts, diseases and habitat loss from land clearing and mining as threats to the species.

The University of Sydney team said that genetic diversity could be improved with the creation of wildlife corridors that allow koalas to move more freely and safely between areas and the end of current rules dictating that koalas taken into veterinary care must be returned to where they were found. Enditem

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