2023
THE KOALA
ON THE BRINK OF EXTINTION
MENBERS: ROSA ALDANA SANCHEZ
LUIS HINOSTROZA BELLIDO
ANGELES CCANTO
BLOCK: 60EEGGPT14
COURSE: ENGLISH
TEACHER: CYNTHIA TATIANA BERROCAL
OCAMPO
Koalas are marsupials endemic to Australia, known for their adorable appearance and
arboreal lifestyle. They have a large, furry nose, round, expressive eyes, and prominent
ears. Their bodies are covered with soft, dense fur that varies in shades of gray to brown,
adapted to protect them from inclement weather and provide some camouflage among
tree leaves.
These specialized animals are strict herbivores, feeding mainly on eucalyptus leaves,
which give them a characteristic odor due to the essential oils present in these leaves.
Their diet consists of selected eucalyptus leaves, as not all eucalyptus species are
consumed by koalas.
Koalas are excellent climbers and spend most of their time resting in the treetops. They
are solitary animals, except during the mating season or when the mothers care for their
young in the marsupial pouch. The young, called joeys, are born prematurely and
complete their development in the safety of the mother's pouch for several months.
Despite their quiet, sleepy appearance, they can be territorial and emit a variety of
sounds to communicate, including grunts and squeaks. Unfortunately, these charming
animals face significant threats, such as habitat loss due to urbanization and
deforestation, diseases such as chlamydia, automobile accidents, and the effects of
climate change, which has led to their classification as a vulnerable species.
Conservation of eucalyptus habitats and efforts to protect these animals are crucial to
their long-term survival.
CHARACTERISTIC:
-COMMON NAME: Koala.
-SCIENTIFIC NAME: Phascolarctos cinereus.
CLASS: Mammal.
-DIET: Herbivore.
- LENGTH: The average length of an adult koala varies between sixty and eighty-five
centimeters.
- WEIGHT: The average weight of an adult koala varies between four and fifteen
kilograms, with males being slightly larger and heavier than females in general.
-AVERAGE LIFE LIFE IN NATURE: Twenty years.
HABITAT:
-Koalas live in eastern Australia, where there are more eucalyptus trees; they like these
trees so much that they almost never leave them. In addition, thanks to their opposable
limbs and toes they stand comfortably on them. Koalas can sleep for up to 18 hours a
day, clinging to the branches and corners of the trees.
REPRODUCTION:
-Koala gestation lasts about thirty-five days.
-They usually have only one offspring at a time.
-Females gestate and care for a single joey for a period of about thirty-five days in
gestation.
¿WHY IS THE KOALA IN DANGER OF
EXTINCTION?
-The koala, one of Australia's most iconic species, is considered by scientists to be a
unique piece of evolutionary history: it is the only living representative of the marsupial
family of fascolarctids. The iconic species, however, has recently been declared
endangered by the Australian authorities. But why are these unique animals
disappearing today? The truth is that while they were hunted for their skins at the
beginning of the last century, their main threat today is simply the disappearance of
their habitat.
TO PRESERVE KOALAS AND ENSURE THEIR LONG-TERM
SURVIVAL, ACTION MUST BE TAKEN ON SEVERAL FRONTS.
1. HABITAT CONSERVATION:
• Protect and conserve forested and eucalypt areas that are natural habitats for
koalas.
• Restore degraded habitats to increase the availability of food and shelter.
2. CLIMATE CHANGE MANAGEMENT:
• Take measures to mitigate climate change and adapt to its effects.
• Develop strategies to protect koalas during extreme weather events such as
bushfires.
3. DISEASE MANAGEMENT:
• Implement disease monitoring and control programs, such as chlamydia.
• Establish veterinary protocols to treat and rehabilitate sick koalas.
4. TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT:
• Implement measures to reduce the risk of roadkill, such as road signage and
wildlife crossings.
• Consider planning urban development in a way that minimizes impacts on koala
habitats.
5. EDUCATION AND AWARENESS:
• Educate the public on the importance of koala conservation.
• Promote sustainable practices and peaceful coexistence between humans and
koalas.
6. RESEARCH AND MONITORING:
• Conduct ongoing research to better understand the needs and behaviours of
koalas.
• Implement monitoring programs to assess the status of populations and the
effectiveness of conservation measures.
7. GENETIC MANAGEMENT:
• Implement strategies to avoid inbreeding and improve the genetic diversity of
koala populations.
8. COLLABORATION:
• Encourage collaboration between governments, conservation organizations,
local communities and other stakeholders to jointly address challenges.
THESE MEASURES SHOULD BE PART OF A COMPREHENSIVE AND
SUSTAINABLE APPROACH TO KOALA CONSERVATION, INVOLVING
GOVERNMENTS, LOCAL COMMUNITIES, CONSERVATION
ORGANIZATIONS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
