In News
- Recently, the Australian government declared the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) as ‘Endangered’ in the states of Queensland and New South Wales as well as the Australian Capital Territory.
About Koala
- Scientific Name: Phascolarctos cinereus
- It is an Australian animal, often called the koala bear.
- Description:
- They are marsupials (mammals with a pouch for the development of offspring).
- Their fur (hair) is more like the coarse wool of a sheep. They have two toes that are fused together on their feet, which they use to comb their fur.
- They have two opposing thumbs on their hands, and both their feet and hands have rough pads and claws to grab onto branches.
- Habitat: Eucalyptus forests of southeastern and eastern Australia.
- Koalas rely on the eucalyptus tree for both habitat and food.
- Threats
- The koala has suffered greatly in recent years due to habitat loss, disease and most of all, bushfires.
- Hunting for their fur.
- Threats of predation and road accidents.
- IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable.
- 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.
- It is the first independent-of-government national strategy to save koalas from extinction.
(Image Courtesy: Britannica)
Source: DTE
