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.
