An Australian conservationist with Samoan links is raising funds so he can get animation concepts for a feature movie called 'The Last Koala'.

Tupaemanaia Dr Steve Brown and his family are in the process of raising $30,000. Tupaemanaia is an Australian married to Funealii Lumaava Sooaemailelagi and have five children.

As a veterinarian, Tupaemanaia said he formed the Koala Conservation organisation in Australia 40 years ago. He then moved to Samoa, and Koala Conversation has grown into a multimillion-dollar charity organisation. 

"I just want to say that I have always looked at conservation with passion. Samoa itself has a lot to do, and I know the Samoa Conservation Society is always onto it, especially with James Atherton at the helm," he said.

"We are making an animated feature film called 'The Last Koala' to be distributed through a global streaming service. We already have a production team in place with decades of experience in narrative film and animation production, and who have both worked for Netflix as full-time employees and content producers." 

A press release statement released by Clcks, a production company in New York announced its partnership with Dr Brown in in his campaign to bring the production of an animated Koala film to the big screen. 

"Dr. Brown is currently in the process of raising $30,000 to fund the initial animation concept," read the statement.

Clcks also stated that the movement focuses on the proposal of an animated koala movie, depicting lovable Koala characters taking climate action in order to undo the disastrous effects of climate change and habitat loss.

"Koalas today are out on a limb. Some gum trees are losing their leaves during heatwaves and bushfires, some rivers are drying up, and many Koalas are getting sunstroke. Worse than all this, no one seems to care, and it is simply unbearable," says Dr. Brown.

In February 2022, the Australian Government declared the Koala as an endangered species in the critical Eastern States. Furthermore, Koalas' prime habitats have been burnt in bushfires across Australia.

"What most people do not know is that Australia's furry friends could be extinct within the next 30 years. The Koala, like so many other Australian native mammal species (about 30 or more), can easily become extinct too. Koala colonies around Sydney and across New South Wales may become extinct by 2050," shares Dr. Brown.

Dr. Brown said the Koala characters in the proposed film want to take climate action now, but they need to find a production house in Hollywood.

He also became convinced in the 1980s that chlamydial disease was a significant threat to the species, especially given the widespread occurrence of the organism in Koalas across Australia. This conviction led him to seek support for establishing a body to fund research into this Australian icon.

Dr. Brown wrote this scientific paper about Koalas suddenly dying in droughts and heatwaves, published in 1988. Over 60 other climate scientists have now cited this article. Climate change has gotten worse in these past 30 or more years, not better, yet the warnings were echoed in 1988.

"Producing an animated film supported by an international steaming network will help spread the message of the Koala's plight and help mitigate their possible extinction, and any help to reach our goal is greatly appreciated," said Dr. Brown.

Tupaemanaia said that he hopes Dwayne ( The Rock) Johnson buys into the film so that more of Samoa will be reflected in it. 

Tupaemanaia has lived in Samoa for several years, raising his children to Samoan based values and principles. His children are all environmental and health advocates.