911 For Koalas - Australian Koala Foundation works to protect koalas

Ranger Rick, Nov, 1999 by Ellen Lambeth

Koalas need all the help they can get. And someone is coming to the rescue right now!

What would Australia be like without kangaroos or kookaburras or . . . koalas? It just wouldn't be right! But koalas could be in danger of disappearing from there.

Long ago, there were millions of koalas living in the eucalyptus (yew- kuh-LIP-tus) forests of eastern Australia (see map). But not anymore. People began killing the fuzzy creatures for their fur. They also began cutting down the forests to make way for houses and farms.

People aren't allowed to kill koalas anymore. But they're still cutting the eucalyptus forests. And that's a big problem.

Why? Well, koalas can't live just anywhere. They're very picky. They eat eucalyptus leaves--and that's about all they eat! In fact, they eat only certain leaves from certain eucalyptus trees. They even get their water from these leaves.

Each koala picks a favorite tree in the eucalyptus forest for its home. But it also climbs down and travels to nearby trees, looking for just the right leaves to eat.

As the forests shrink and eucalyptus trees disappear, life gets tough for koalas. It becomes harder and harder for them to find enough food, new homes, or even mates. And koalas aren't safe while they wander around on the ground searching for trees. Too many end up getting hit by cars or attacked by dogs.

Lots of people are trying to help koalas. One group that's working especially hard is the Australian Koala Foundation. This group, for example, has spent over a year studying koalas in the Pilliga Forest. And they're trying to find the answers to some important questions.

For example, they want to know: How many koalas are there? How many trees do they use, and which ones? What happens to the animals when parts of the forest are cut down?

To make it easier to get this information, scientists captured some of the Pilliga koalas, checked their health, and turned them loose. Then they used special equipment to track the koalas, watching where they went and what they did. At the end of a year, they again caught the koalas, checked their health, and set them free.

The collected information tells what the koalas in the Pilliga Forest need to survive and stay healthy. And what good is that? It can help people figure out the best way to use what's left of the forest and protect the koalas at the same time.

Rangers: Get more koala news from the Australian Koala Foundation's Web site: www.akfkoala.gil.com.au Try their Kids' Fun Page. Ranger Rick

DOWN, PLEASE A scientist uses a "flag" to tease this mother koala out of her home tree (left). Why? So a vet can examine her. Do you see her baby hitching a piggyback ride? Helpers on the ground will gently catch the pair.

IN THE PINK Baby Koala snuggles safely in this soft homemade "pouch" (left). Meanwhile, Mom is whisked away for her medical checkup.

SWEET DREAMS? Mom is given sleeping gas while the vet takes measurements and blood samples (above). The tests will show if she's growing well and staying healthy.

HOME AT LAST! After the exam, the koalas are carried back to the forest where they were caught and then let go.

Once Mom has climbed to treetop safety, she curls up with Baby and . . . z-zz-zzzz.