Koalas
Koalas are Australian marsupials which get their names from an Aboriginal word meaning "no drink" as 90% of its hydration is received from the eucalyptus leaves it eats and shall only drink when the koala may be ill or there is not enough moisture in the leaves, for example during droughts.
Koalas weigh up to about 9kg and are bear-like, herbivorous marsupials and apart from the Great Glider and Ringtail Possum, Koalas are the only mammals which are able to survive on a diet of eucalyptus leaves.
Koalas are generally found near bushland habitats ranging from coastal islands to low woodlands inland. The states in which Koalas are found are in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.
Koalas weigh up to about 9kg and are bear-like, herbivorous marsupials and apart from the Great Glider and Ringtail Possum, Koalas are the only mammals which are able to survive on a diet of eucalyptus leaves.
Koalas are generally found near bushland habitats ranging from coastal islands to low woodlands inland. The states in which Koalas are found are in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.
Koalas need to be in areas where there is enough eucalyptus forests to support a koala population and so they are able to interact with each other. Also space to expand when maturing young.
Approximately three million koalas were shot for their fur in the 1800's to the 1900's which makes koalas protected species. There is about 100,000 koalas left in the population. Although koalas may be protected, their habitats are not. In 2012 koalas were declared as critically endangered in QLD and it was confirmed in 1995 koalas are vulnerable in NSW, it is rare in SA and there has been no official listing for VIC. Since European settlement, 80% of the koala habitat has been wiped and the remaining is on privately owned land, however most being unprotected. A major threat to the koalas is land clearing where their eucalyptus trees are being decimated. The land becomes used for expansion in human settlement such as agriculture, mining, housing, factories and roads. This results in loss of habitats, death or injuries from traffic and predators such as dingoes, pythons, eagles and because of overcrowding, competition for food and territory. Other threats include bush fires where entire habitats can be wiped out triggered by a single fire, die backs, trees are lost through land degradation, loss of leaves et. having changes on the ecosystem and diseases. Through the Australian Koala Foundation we can help koalas and their habitats. This foundation also suggests that if we all contributed into something small we could help save the environment. Such as by recycling or saving water and electricity and this way we can help protect the koalas' habitats. The Australia Zoo purchases large tracts of land to help the survival of the koalas in the wild. |