Koalas Aren’t Extinct, but Their Future Is in Danger, Experts Say

[PHDNM]

Koalas Aren’t Extinct, but Their Future Is in Danger, Experts Say

Claims that koalas were “functionally extinct” spread widely online as fires raged in Australia. But some scientists warned of the dangers of exaggeration.

Nov. 25, 2019

There is no doubt that the fires tearing across eastern Australia have been hurting koalas.

With large areas of their crucial habitat ravaged, it is unclear what the future holds for a species that was already under threat before this round of bush fires. Some koalas have been rescued — singed and dehydrated — from the wild. And with blazes still burning, it is hard to know how many have been killed.

But in describing the plight of these animals, is it possible to go too far?

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/25/w...y-extinct.html

[PHDNM]

Australia's environment minister says up to 30% of koalas killed in NSW mid-north coast fires

Dec 27, 2019

Australia’s environment minister has said up to 30% of koalas on the New South Wales mid-north coast may have been killed in the country’s ongoing bushfire crisis.

Nationally, more than 5m hectares have been burned in an unprecedented bushfire season that has also killed nine people. Some 3.4m hectares have been burnt in NSW alone.

The state’s mid-north coast is home to a significant number of Australia’s koalas, with an estimated population between 15,000 to 28,000.

https://www.theguardian.com/australi...th-coast-fires

[Crimean]

Your life is always in danger if you can eat only one type of food - eucalyptus leaves in this case.
I heard in one program that these leaves contain some alkaloids, which is why koalas are permanently in a state similar to alcoholic intoxication.

[PaleoEuropean]

Kinda pisses me off that we haven't done more as Americans since Australia always sends us fire crews when we need them and our fire seasons are over so we can afford to send the human and material resources to them.