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Koala's - possibly the world's most treasured marsupials - are in danger of extinction after an outbreak of chlamydia.
Conservation group the Australian Koala Foundation has warned the furry Oz icons could die out within 30 years without intervention.
The foundation is calling on the country's government to list the species as vulnerable, after discovering the mainland population of koalas had fallen to as little as 43,000.
Last surveyed in 2003, the population of the eucalyptus-loving animals then stood at 100,000.
Commenting on the latest figures, a spokesperson for the charity said: "I think it will be very hard for anyone to walk away from this data."
The foundation estimates the fluffy tree-dweller to be worth around AUS$1.1 billion (£612 million) and 9,000 jobs to the Australian economy.
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