UPSC Articles
Koalas
Part of: Prelims and GS-III Environment
Context: Recently, Australia has classified Koalas as ‘endangered’ after widespread bushfires, drought and land clearing destroyed much of their eucalyptus-rich habitat.
About Koalas
- A koala or koala bear is an arboreal herbivorous marsupial native to Australia.
- Being marsupials, koalas give birth to underdeveloped young that crawl into their mothers’ pouches, where they stay for the first six to seven months of their lives.
- It is easily recognisable by its stout, tailless body.
- According to fossil records, Koala species have inhabited parts of Australia for at least 25 million years.
- But today, only one species remains i.e., the Phascolarctos cinereus.
- They were classified as “vulnerable” only in 2012.
- They inhabit open Eucalyptus woodland, the leaves of these trees make up most of their diet.
- Another major threat to Koala population is the spread of chlamydia, a sexually transmitted disease known to cause blindness and cysts in the koalas reproductive tract.
News Source: IE
