Prior to koalas being protected by law, their populations declined due to hunting for the fur trade. In May 2022, koala populations in New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory and Queensland were gazetted as endangered under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act. The koala was listed as vulnerable in 2012 by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as although some populations are in decline, the Victorian populations are stable. In contrast, some southern populations are locally overabundant and are now requiring management, such as translocation. Population declines are common in the northern half of the koala's range, where habitat loss, hotter weather, droughts, disease, dog attacks and vehicle collisions are the major threats. Changes in these factors may be a prelude to population decline in response to environmental change or human activities. What is their endangered species/extinction status?ĭisease prevalence, nutritional status, reproductive success and demographic indices are indicators of population stability in wildlife. Koalas have adapted to the eucalypt diet by having the longest caecum (appendix-equivalent) for their size of any mammal and a liver that detoxifies the oils and phenolics. They contain strong-smelling oils, phenolic compounds and even sometimes cyanide precursors, which make them unpalatable or even toxic to most mammals.Īs a result, koalas have quite a reputation as fussy eaters, sniffing the foliage before deciding to eat. Koalas feed mainly on the leaves of eucalypts, with some non-eucalypts also contributing to the diet.Įucalypt leaves have a high water and fibre content, with low protein content. This is not true, but koalas are known to sleep for up to 20 hours per day to conserve their energy. There is a myth that eucalyptus oils intoxicate koalas, rendering them lethargic. Is it true they get ‘drunk’ on gum leaves? An outdated but common name for the koala is ‘koala bear’ or ‘native bear’ although they are marsupials, not related at all to bears. The scientific name for the koala is ‘ PhascolarctosĬinereus’, which means ‘ash-coloured pouched bear’. Most of their water requirements are usually obtained from eucalyptus leaves, but increasingly koalas have been seen drinking water to survive heatwaves and bushfires. The word ‘koala’ is thought to be derived from the Dharung language of the greater Sydney region, meaning ‘no drink’. What does everyone assume about koalas but isn’t true? The closest relative of the koala is the wombat. The process of pap feeding occurs when the joey is about five-to-six months old and is essential in the joey’s transition from drinking milk in the pouch to eating eucalypt leaves. Not all koalas look the same – northern koalas in Queensland and northern New South Wales have shorter fur and are smaller than southern koalas from southern NSW, Victoria and South Australia.Ī koala joey is fed pap, a form of koala droppings containing live gut microorganisms to help them digest eucalypt leaves, by its mother around weaning time. The slits of the pupils in koala eyes are vertical like cats, rather than horizontal as in other marsupials. Koala fingerprints are believed to increase sensitivity to touch, improve grip and possibly prevent blisters. Koalas also have human-like fingerprints unique to each individual koala. The empathy the koala generates among people is thought to be due to it having an appealing face rather than a muzzle, a trait it shares with humans. Koalas have a backward-opening pouch, which seems odd for an animal climbing trees or sitting in an upright position. Here we will explore what makes these animals unique and how Charles Sturt University is contributing to saving endangered populations. They play an important role in our country’s history and ecosystem. Koalas are more than just a cute and cuddly attraction for overseas visitors to marvel at. Ī whole month dedicated to one of the nation’s treasures? We think so. Sciences in Wagga Wagga Dr Joanne Connolly. Treasures are under threat and what is being done to save them during Save theĪssociate Professor in Veterinary Science in the Charles Sturt School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Koalas as a Charles Sturt University academic explains why these national We dive into the weird and wonderful world of
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