In News
- Recently, the Australian Government announced a list of 110 ‘priority species’ that it will try to save from extinction over the next 10 years which includes koalas.Â
About Koala
- Scientific Name:
- Phascolarctos cinereusÂ
- The koala is the only member of the family Phascolarctidae.Â
- Phascolarctos cinereusÂ
- Characteristics:
- It is a tree-climbing animal.
- It is a marsupial animal which means a mammal with a pouch for the development of offspring.
- Koalas usually don’t drink much water as they get most of their moisture from these leaves.Â
- Â Habitat, behavior, and diet:
- Koalas live in the eucalyptus forests of southeastern and eastern Australia.Â
- They rely on the eucalyptus tree for both habitat and food.
- Koalas live in the eucalyptus forests of southeastern and eastern Australia.Â
- Threats to survival:
- Koala numbers plummeted in the late 19th and early 20th century from hunting for their fur.Â
- Now they face serious threats from habitat loss.Â
- Land clearing, logging, and bushfires, especially the devastating 2019-2020 seasons have destroyed much of the forest they live in.
- IUCN Status:
- In February 2022 the status of the koala was changed from vulnerable to endangered.
- Conservation:
- Caring and rehabilitating the injured.
- Building koala sanctuaries and reserves.
- Saving eucalyptus trees and planting new ones.
- Researching about koala genetics, mating choices and health.
- The Koala Conservation Plan by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Australia.Â
Source: DTE
