Koalas Threatened by Human Activities- by Amy Weller
We've Got a Problem:
The koala bear has recently been added onto the endangered species list. Why? Human activities have greatly decreased the number of koalas in the wild. In less than ten years, the population of wild koalas has dropped by 90%. Now only around 2,000 to 8,000 koala bears remain. One huge problem is that, in Australia, not much is being done to protect these lovable creatures. Koalas are only protected in the New South Whales area where they have been declared a threatened species, while in the principality of Victoria, there is no such declaration. At the turn of the 20th century, koalas were nearly completely killed off because they were popular hunting prizes for their fur. Now they are in danger because of habitat destruction caused by human activities such as logging, mining, housing, the building of factories and roads and farming. Koalas are also often hit by oncoming traffic and attacked and killed by household pets such as cats and dogs. Pesticides from home gardens can also have a negative affect on these animals.
What Are the Risks?
~ All of these factors increase stress levels on koalas, making them more likely to contract diseases
~ These diseases could spread to other wild animals and even to dogs and cats
~ Koala bears have a diet solely composed of the eucalyptus tree leaves, and koalas will not have any other food options if the eucalyptus in their immediate area are gone
~ Koalas live in very fertile, rich areas that are ideal for agriculture, and if farmers take up all of this land, the koalas will not be able to survive
~ Decreased biodiversity in Australia will cause the food chain to be broken (Example: No other creature is able to digest eucalyptus besides koalas, and the koalas becoming extinct will cause eucalyptus to overgrow and choke out the other plants in the area)
What to Do?
~ Raise awareness of the koalas' predicament through wildlife tours in Australia
~ Fundraisers to build a wildlife reserve for displaces koalas
~ Build a wildlife reserve to house displaces koala bears until their habitat has been restored
~ Petition for the Australian government to make laws for every principality that protects koalas and their habitats properly
~ Petition to set aside portions of rich land just for koalas and keep the areas protected by park rangers (like Yellowstone National Park)
~ Set restrictions on farming and on household pets so less harm will be inflicted upon koalas
~ Liscence special veteranarians to take care of overstressed/diseased koalas
We've Got a Problem:
The koala bear has recently been added onto the endangered species list. Why? Human activities have greatly decreased the number of koalas in the wild. In less than ten years, the population of wild koalas has dropped by 90%. Now only around 2,000 to 8,000 koala bears remain. One huge problem is that, in Australia, not much is being done to protect these lovable creatures. Koalas are only protected in the New South Whales area where they have been declared a threatened species, while in the principality of Victoria, there is no such declaration. At the turn of the 20th century, koalas were nearly completely killed off because they were popular hunting prizes for their fur. Now they are in danger because of habitat destruction caused by human activities such as logging, mining, housing, the building of factories and roads and farming. Koalas are also often hit by oncoming traffic and attacked and killed by household pets such as cats and dogs. Pesticides from home gardens can also have a negative affect on these animals.
What Are the Risks?
~ All of these factors increase stress levels on koalas, making them more likely to contract diseases
~ These diseases could spread to other wild animals and even to dogs and cats
~ Koala bears have a diet solely composed of the eucalyptus tree leaves, and koalas will not have any other food options if the eucalyptus in their immediate area are gone
~ Koalas live in very fertile, rich areas that are ideal for agriculture, and if farmers take up all of this land, the koalas will not be able to survive
~ Decreased biodiversity in Australia will cause the food chain to be broken (Example: No other creature is able to digest eucalyptus besides koalas, and the koalas becoming extinct will cause eucalyptus to overgrow and choke out the other plants in the area)
What to Do?
~ Raise awareness of the koalas' predicament through wildlife tours in Australia
~ Fundraisers to build a wildlife reserve for displaces koalas
~ Build a wildlife reserve to house displaces koala bears until their habitat has been restored
~ Petition for the Australian government to make laws for every principality that protects koalas and their habitats properly
~ Petition to set aside portions of rich land just for koalas and keep the areas protected by park rangers (like Yellowstone National Park)
~ Set restrictions on farming and on household pets so less harm will be inflicted upon koalas
~ Liscence special veteranarians to take care of overstressed/diseased koalas
Economical Advantages:
~ Wildlife tours will bring in lots of extra money and open up job opportunities as tour guides and park managers
~ Having a koala park will open up job opportunities as park rangers
~ Veteranarians will make more because of more of a job opportunity taking care of koalas
~ The cost of getting rid of eucalyptus trees would be expensive, and creating a greater koala population will take care of this problem
Sources:
Picture source - http://letenaim.tripod.com/
http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/headline_universe/koalas.html&nl=1l
http://www.wildlifewatchers.org/esReports/report33.html
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Phascolarctos_cinereus.html
http://www.thekoala.com/koala/