Koala: Phascolarctidae
Conservation Status
By the end of the 1920s millions of kolas had been hunted for their fur, and these animals had become extinct in parts of their original range. Intense conservation programs, including protecting habitat, breeding programs, and relocation of some animals, has resulted in a substantial increase in the koala population. There are even some areas where overcrowding is occurring today, leaving the koalas vulnerable to disease and starvation. Today, although there are plenty of koalas, conservationists are concerned about their loss of habitat. The areas in which koalas live are some of the most rapidly developing places in Australia. The Australian Koala Foundation has been a leader in mapping koala habitat and lobbying for its protection.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Books:
Menkhorst, Frank. A Field Guide to the Mammals of Australia, 2nd ed. Oxford, U.K.: Oxford University Press, 2001.
Nowak, Ronald M. Walker's Mammals of the World. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1995. Online at http://www.press.jhu.edu/books/walkers_mammals_of_the_world (accessed on May 8, 2004).
Wexo, John B. Koalas and other Australian Animals. Poway, CA: Zoobooks/Wildlife Education, 1997.
Web sites:
Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service. "Koala." http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/npws.nsf/Content/The+koala (accessed on June 30, 2004).
Other sources:
The Australian Koala Foundation. G. P. O. 2659, Brisbane, Queensland 4001 Australia. Phone: 61 (07) 3229 7233. Fax: 61 (07) 3221 0337. E-mail: akf@savethekoala.com Web site: http://www.savethekoala.com/.
Additional topics
Animal Life ResourceMammalsKoala: Phascolarctidae - Physical Characteristics, Diet, Behavior And Reproduction, Conservation Status - GEOGRAPHIC RANGE, HABITAT, KOALAS AND PEOPLE