Threats to the koala
Between 1788 and 1921, 35.3 million hectares of forest were ring-barked and partially cleared, which corresponds with 44 of the land area of New South Wales.1 The fur trade was not the only threat the koala had to face during the late 1800s and early 1900s.2 Australia's native animals have always had to contend with natural disasters such as fire and drought, but other dangers are a direct result of human settlement. Habitat loss and fragmentation, disease, overpopulation, inbreeding, dog...
Australian Zoos That Currently Hold Koalas
2 Australian Woolshed, Brisbane 4 Cairns Tropical Zoo, Clifton Beach 5 Cooberrie Park Flora and Fauna Sanctuary, Cooberrie 6 Currumbin Sanctuary, Gold Coast 7 David Fleay Wildlife Park, West Burleigh 9 Hamilton Island Koala Gallery, Hamilton Island 10 Hartley's Creek Crocodile Farm, Hartley's Creek 11 Illawong Fauna Sanctuary, Mirani 12 Koala and Wildlife Park, Kuranda 13 Koala Wildlife Park, Magnetic Island 14 Kumbartcho Wildlife Sanctuary Bunya Park Wildlife Sanctuary , Brisbane 15 Lone Pine...
Zoos and tourism
Easily ranking amongst the most appealing mammals known to man Thascolarctos cinereusj, unfortunately, will presumably never become well known as a zoo animal outside Australia.1 The koala's undeniable appeal has helped it play an important role both as an overseas ambassador for Australia and as a great attraction for Australian zoo and tourism industries. The zoos and fauna parks are not the only ones to benefit, however, as the koalas' presence in these institutions has allowed members of...
Koala behaviour
It is very recluse in its habits, and, without the aid of the natives, its presence among the thick foliage of the great Eucalypti can rarely be detected. During the daytime it is so slothful that it is very difficult to arouse and make it quit its resting place. Those that fell of my own gun were most tenacious of life, clinging to the branches until the last Despite the smallness of its brain and the fact that it does not have the energy to move around more than is absolutely necessary, the...
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The original Teddy bears, c. 1903. Photo Sagamore Hill National Historic site Various labels and advertisements that have used the koala. Reproduced from Symbols of Australia by Mimmo Cozzolino Various labels and advertisements that have used the koala. Reproduced from Symbols of Australia by Mimmo Cozzolino history. Ironically, Teddy is a name that Roosevelt neither liked nor used in real life. It was used by the papers to refer to him during his presidency.16 Despite mistaking the origins of...
Aboriginal Dreamtime
At one time the Kulin were in the habit of skinning the koalas prior to cooking them, as they did with all the other animals. The koalas resented this treatment, and resolved to be revenged upon the Kulin. One day, when all the people were away from their camp, the koalas seized all the tarnuks, and hid them. Then they drained all the creeks and water-holes in the country. When the people came back they found no water to drink, and were in great distress. All the women and children cried out in...
Diprotodon Distribution
Probable relationships of koalas and their diversity through time. Each block represents a genus and the number of species is indicated in the block if greater than one. Taken from Long et al. 2002 late Pleistocene have been found north of Perth at Koala Cave near Yanchep,25 and south of the city at Mammoth Cave near Margaret River.26 Devil's Lair near Boranup has Phascolarctos fossils from the main excavation,27 with other fossils also known from Labyrinth Cave near Augusta.28 Koala fossil...
Discovery by Europeans
He keeps his little round eyes fixed on yours, blinking solemnly and all you can do is wriggle with delight at your discovery that in this disillusioned grown-up world you have met the most lovable toy of your childhood come to life. Here is the very teddy bear Aunt Alice gave you when you were three. If Aunt Alice put her hand deep down into her handbag and did you really proud, the two are the same size. Perhaps not the same colour, for koala favours grey or silver or a glossy browny-black,...
Evolution and relationships
Our slow moving koala is a triumph of evolution, able to survive and thrive on a diet of gum leaves, not the most nutritious plants. Its solution to the problem of handling such food made the koala a success story of the Australian forests.1 The koala is the largest arboreal, or tree-climbing, mammal on the island continent of Australia. It is instantly recognisable by its short, stocky build, lack of tail, large fluffy ears and spoon-shaped nose. The koala can vary considerably in size and...
Koala ecology
As a rule, he selects a comfortable low fork in a manna gum as sleeping quarters during the daytime. Being mainly nocturnal, the koala usually sleeps or dozes away the hours between dawn and sunset, but often wakes up for a snack. When the supply of tender leaf shoots fails, a move is made to a neighbouring tree.1 Despite appearances, the koala's life is not an easy one. Its preferred food is so tough and abrasive to chew that its teeth are eventually worn down to stumps. The same food is also...
Introduction On Koalas
If you were to take a straw poll of the animal most closely associated with Australia, it's a fair bet that the koala would come out marginally in front of the kangaroo. Instantly recognisable by its large fluffy ears, spoon-shaped nose and bright button eyes, the koala is an undeniable drawcard at zoos and fauna parks, an advertising icon and the inspiration behind millions of soft toys, games and gimmicks. Today we see this species as an icon, a valuable attraction at Australian zoos and...
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Koala sheltering in the shade of a tree during a heatwave. Photo Greg Gordon condition and had a low mortality rate. Surprisingly, observers also found the highest mortality rates among young animals, which may have been excluded from optimal sites by older, dominant animals.55 In Chapter 8 we looked at the problems of overpopulation that can occur on islands, but a number of isolated mainland populations have also become overpopulated. After the prohibi tion on hunting, koala population...
The politics and costs of managing koalas
An estimated 150,000 visitors come to the island Kangaroo Island every year to see its natural wonders many of them from overseas. They will stop coming if the pristine bush is filled with dead and dying koalas in dead and dying trees.1 Islands play an important and controversial role in the koala's story. At the time of European settlement, the koala appears to have occurred naturally on up to six islands, though some of these islands are typically separated by only narrow tidal channels....
The koala fur trade
The shooting of our harmless and lovable native bear is nothing less than barbarous. His case is extremely different from that of other furred animals. No one has ever accused him of spoiling the farmer's wheat, eating the squatters' grass, or even spreading the prickly pear. There is not a social vice that can be put down to his account. In addition, he is comparatively defenceless. He affords no sport to the gunman . . . he has been almost blotted out already from some areas, in days when...
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Koala resting in the fork of a tree. Photo Jenny Rollo Australian species that they may never see otherwise. It is a self-perpetuating relationship where zoos want koalas because of their popularity with visitors, but where zoos themselves are also, almost certainly, a driving force behind the koala's continued popularity. Keeping koalas in captivity is not without its challenges, not the least of which is feeding such a fussy animal. Here we explore the popularity of the koala within zoos and...
Acknowledgements
Numerous people have provided valuable assistance in the writing of this book. My sincere thanks go to Achim Winkler from Zoo Duisburg for providing details of European zoos that either have held, or currently hold, koalas. Chris Hamlin from San Diego Zoo also provided excellent information on institutions in the United States that hold koalas, and on the fodder providers to zoos in both the United States and Europe. Regina Pfistermuller from Zoo Vienna and Sandy Masuo from Los Angeles Zoo were...