Koalas

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Strange animals really. The name comes from an aboriginal language and means "doesn't drink" because for the most part these animals get all the moisture they need from the leaves they eat. They actually do drink water, but not as often as you might expect. They're highly specialised feeders and can only eat the leaves of a few specific species of gum trees. These leaves aren't very rich in nutrients so Koalas aren't the most energetic of creatures and spend the majority of their lives just eating and sleeping.

People that live in Sydney keep getting told that Koalas are an endangered species, and they even have a couple of charities raising money to "save the Koala". It's all a pack of lies. Yes Koalas are dying out in and around Sydney, but only around Sydney. In the rest of the country they keep outbreeding what their habitats can support and we have to regularly cull their numbers to keep their populations healthy. Sydney could do a great deal to help their Koala populations by shutting down coal mines instead of begging for money from strangers to throw at a nonexistent problem.

Adelaide Hills koala population boom risks starvation, study finds

 

[Judge]

Interesting.

Makes me wonder about the divide of values and perception between one Aussie state and another. I'm guessing being in SA, that you're considerably closer to nature compared to most anyone living in urban areas of NSW or Victoria. Where I'd think much of any human urban environment would be toxic to any number of animal species.

Actually it sounds quite familiar given the differences between one US state and another, with so many ecological variables in play.

 

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I'm guessing being in SA, that you're considerably closer to nature compared to most anyone living in urban areas of NSW or Victoria.

It's only very specifically in and around Sydney where Koalas are dying out, go to the western half of New South Wales and populations are healthy. States of Queensland and Victoria also have to carry out regular culls of koalas to keep populations healthy.

Last year a group of Sydney siders took the Victorian government to court to try and prevent a cull, but consider this:

Why would we take advice on wildlife management from people with a proven very bad track record?

Wildlife advocates file lawsuit over mass koala shootings

 

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Actually it sounds quite familiar given the differences between one US state and another, with so many ecological variables in play.

The biggest problem is people that have grown up only in cities and are completely divorced from the natural world we live in. They don't like the idea of culls "because koalas are cute" without having any understanding of how crucial it is to maintain a balance in ecosystems.

These are the same idiots that keep trying to prevent the burning off of native bush, they have absolutely no understanding of the Australian bush and their reactions are not based in logic but are instead simple emotional responses to situations they are not prepared to learn more about. They have the notion that "fire is bad" with no understanding of what they're talking (protesting) about.

Fact: the trees that Koalas rely on for their only food source rely on fire as a part of their breeding cycle. If the tree doesn't get scorched by fire then it won't flower. No flowers means no seeds, which means no baby trees to replace those that get old and die. So called "greenies" want fires stopped because some animals get hurt in fires, but without those fires all the animals they care about will starve to death.

Save the forests - bulldoze the greenies.

 

[Judge]

The biggest problem is people that have grown up only in cities and are completely divorced from the natural world we live in. They don't like the idea of culls "because koalas are cute" without having any understanding of how crucial it is to maintain a balance in ecosystems.

Sounds very familiar with consideration to my area as well. Bears, wolves and in particular deer. Where policies and methodologies change based on their numbers. All as you say to "maintain a balance in the ecosystem".

To act preemptively to keep a problem from becoming a natural disaster.

 

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Sounds very familiar with consideration to my area as well. Bears, wolves and in particular deer. Where policies and methodologies change based on their numbers. All as you say to "maintain a balance in the ecosystem".

That statement pretty much highlights a big part of the problem, people form different emotional responses to different types of animals and tend to only like the main players such as bears wolves and deer. Probably one of the most important players in your ecosystems are the coyotes but no one likes them. Your possums as well, ugly as they are they are a very necessary part of the balance.

Aussie farmers are finally starting to work this out. Some of them are deliberately devoting part of their land to wildlife habitats and bringing native wildlife back in to the equation is saving them hundreds of thousands of dollars on pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers. The success stories in this area keep stacking up.