Quick answer
IUCN lists koalas as Vulnerable (2014). Australia listed the combined Queensland, New South Wales and ACT populations as Endangered in 2022 — a national ledger, not a second IUCN category. They are marsupials, not bears. Figures checked 13 August 2026.
Are koalas Endangered or just Vulnerable?
Internationally, Vulnerable. Nationally, the combined QLD/NSW/ACT populations were listed Endangered in 2022. “Listed in our guides as Vulnerable” without that split was the thin version of this page. Victoria and South Australia are not the same ledger.
What is driving the decline?
Land clearing, bushfires, drought, vehicle strikes, dog attacks and chlamydia. Ranking those threats changes by coast. A 2019–20 fire map is not a Gold Coast suburb.
Is there a single number left?
No honest weekly census. State totals disagree. Isolated woodland blocks can empty while a viral “saved” headline circulates.
What actually helps?
Connected eucalyptus, slower roads, fewer roaming dogs. WARN’s habitat appeal funds partner work — not a koala hospital.
Does a joey mean recovery?
No. A pouch young is a life stage, not a census rebound. Disease and cars still truncate the next generation.
Why is Vulnerable not an all-clear?
Because the 2014 global label is older than the 2022 national Endangered listing, and fire years rewrite local maps overnight.
Sources
Koala FAQs
Are koalas endangered?
IUCN lists koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) as Vulnerable (2014), not a single global Endangered label. Australia listed the combined Queensland, New South Wales and ACT populations as Endangered under national law in 2022. Those are different ledgers. They are marsupials, not bears. Figures checked 13 August 2026.
How many koalas are left?
There is no honest weekly national headcount. State estimates disagree, and fire years punch holes overnight. Treat any single viral total as a campaign number until you see the survey method. Captive koalas are a separate ledger.
Are koalas bears?
No. They are marsupials. Mixing “koala bear” with giant pandas produces the false story that a Chengdu postcard protects eucalyptus woodland. Do not map them to an orangutan or panda appeal.
What actually helps koalas?
Keep eucalyptus woodland connected, cut road and dog deaths, and fund in-range habitat work. World Animal Rescue Network funds habitat-protection partners. WARN does not run Australian koala hospitals.
Who this page is for.This page explains IUCN-style status. Skip it if you need an emergency wildlife-rescue number.