The Koala Essay Research Paper MarsupialsThe KoalaAmong — страница 2

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on. The mother koala can continue all of her daily routine with the baby in the pouch. When the baby koala is large enough it leaves the pouch and travels on its mother?s back. In this position it is less likely to be bumped against tree branches while the mother is climbing. With all of the strong characteristics of the koala it is very strange that the koala actually has a very fragile body. Zookeepers who handle koalas have stated that despite their toughness, their bodies are more delicate than is usually imagined. The animals can only be lifted by gripping it around the waist or lifting it directly by means of the arms. The sides of the koala and the head are very dangerous spots to grab when handling a koala. Just grabbing the feet or hands of the koala is also a very

vulnerable place to the animals. The diet of the koala bears is very particular. Most koalas do enjoy feasting on the high leaves of the gum tree; however, eucalyptus leaves also appeal to the koala. There are many different types of gum trees for the koalas to feast on as well. In New South Wales there are more than twenty species of gum trees that were found to be used as food for the koalas. One koala was even seen eating the leaves of the introduced weeping willow. There is a huge variety of plant life that the koala will feed on, but it all depends on the location in which the koala lives. There are vary dangerous plant life for the koalas, some leaves in the area have special enzymes which control koala feeding habits (Sarre 1999). These leaves are part of the dangers that

koalas face in the wild. Koalas are a threatened species, even though they are so isolated in the Australian jungles. Wildlife surveys show that human interruption has caused a severe decline in koala population. Among the factors that caused this decline are the building of highways and pollutants. As sad as it is poaching of koalas is also a huge problem in Australia. Even though koala population is at an up rise, the ideas of hunting koalas still disturb many people. There are many conservation groups across the country who are starting programs and save the koalas from death (Payne 1995). Hopefully with everyone?s help the koalas will be around for many generations to enjoy.