KEY KOALA FACTS
Millions of years of evolution mean that the koala is
highly adapted. But specialisation, a small gene pool
and diseases are all posing challenges.
As the young koala approaches
six months, its mother begins to
prepare it for its eucalyptus diet by
producing a faecal pap, which has
a high concentration of bacteria.The koala retrovirus present in many
populations has been implicated in the
occurrence of Koala Immune Deficiency,
which leaves the animals more
susceptible to various diseases.With a ‘super liver’ that has
evolved to deal with the toxins in
eucalypt leaves, koalas can often
just excrete drugs, which makes
it hard to administer medication.At least 90 per cent of the
koala population is infected by
chlamydia. There are chlamydia-
free populations in Victoria, which
were reintroduced in the 1920s.The koala has one
of the smallest brains
relative to body weight of
any mammal, which may
be an adaptation to its
low-energy diet (brains
consume a lot of energy).Eucalypts are low in nutrition and
poisonous to most animals. They
require a very slow metabolic rate
and the food must be held longer
within the digestive system.2000
Australia ranks fifth in the world for
deforestation rates, having cleared
564,800ha. The koala’s geographical range
has shrunk by more than 50 per cent since
European arrival.2012
The Australian government lists the
koala as ‘Vulnerable’. Research
shows population declines of 40 per
cent in Queensland and 33 per
cent in New South Wales.2009
Bushfires see koalas
coming to ground to
source water from
gardens and even
passing cyclists.FUTURE
Will a koala protection
act or focus on
climate refugia
prevent threatened
local extinctions?1980S
Koalas are seen
dropping out
of trees during
a sustained
heat wave.Campbell Newman, wants to turn all of our currently
protected areas into recreation parks. We don’t want them
to be inaccessible to people, but we don’t want motorised
vehicles and shooters in there,” explains Christine. “And
having the koala listed as Vulnerable, alongside the dugong
and cassowary, in theory means that developers have to
take the animal into consideration when they build.” But
compliance with the listing is voluntary and it takes time
for this to filter through, especially when many projects
received planning permission prior to the listing.
Transforming the undeniable public affection for koalas
into political action is down to campaigners, scientists andeducators. For homeowners on new estates to developers,
the mining industry and politicians, the message is simple:
everyone has a responsibility to protect habitat that
supports koalas, which will also safeguard hundreds of
other species that don’t have Barry’s mass appeal.
“Australia has one of the worst records for extinctions,”
says Christine. “The koala is cute, iconic and represents
what is happening to our habitat. There
has to be a shift in thinking. These
animals are unique, and we have to find
a balance between development and
habitat conservation.”W
ac
cl
p
loSUZI ESZTERHASis chairman of the Shark
Trust and the Shark Conservation Society,
and author of several shark books including
Sharks in British Seas.