We
stopped in Australia several times as part of our numerous travels to
nearby Pacific islands. Because we never stayed more than a week or two at
a time, we focused mainly on Queensland and the Brisbane area.
An isolated continent with a broad range of climates and landscapes,
Australia is home to the strange marsupials. In fact, of the 266 species
of marsupials, only the opossums can be found in America. The marsupial
mouse is the smallest member of the group; the kangaroo is the largest.
Among the well-known marsupials is the Tasmanian devil, the Tasmanian
tiger, the kangaroo, the opossum, the phalanger, the koala and its closest
relative, the wombat. Once abundant, the koalas are now only found along a
small piece of land on the east side of the Australian continent.
Once you find them, you never want to leave them. They are so precious.
The koalas that live in sanctuaries are particularly accustomed to human
company; they do not show any aggressiveness towards us. You can even have
the chance to cuddle a young; like a live " teddy bear ", the koala will
snuggle up in you arms.
A species in danger The koalas, which also respond to the scientific
name of Phascolarctos cinereus, have been hunted by the Australian
aboriginals for their flesh and their fur for several thousands of years.
The arrival of Europeans in Australia did not improve their lot. During
the 19th and the 20th centuries, millions of koalas were killed. In 1919
only, one million skins of koalas were collected in Queensland to be sold
in Europe and in the United States. When koala hunting was finally
prohibited in 1927, the populations were already depleted, even extinct in
certain areas. Today, this favourite of the Australian fauna enjoys a very
strict protection. It is estimated that between 20 000 and 80 000 koalas
are still alive today.
Born to climb
The koala is well adapted to life in the trees. It has long limbs and
fingers equipped with rough cushions and sharp claws. Its rudimentary tail
is almost invisible. Its front legs possess two "thumbs" that are
completely opposed to the three other fingers, a "device" which gives the
koala a firm grip on the branches. Its hind legs have a very broad big toe
opposed to the four other fingers. The second and the third toes are
partially fused and are used for grooming. The thick fur of the koala
protects it during temperature variations and keeps it dry at all times.
A strict diet
Koalas live almost exclusively in eucalyptus thickets. Why? Simply because
eucalyptus leaves are their favourite food. They can apparently ingest up
to one kilo per day. But the koala is still a fine gourmet. It feeds
slowly; one eucalyptus leaf after the other, chewing it with its broad
molars before swallowing it. Its very long intestine is covered with
bacteria, which help digest the plants while its liver filters the toxic
substances often present in the eucalyptus. The koala only seldom drinks;
it is satisfied with a little dew and the water contained in the leaves it
consumes. However, this diet of eucalyptus leaves is low in energy, thus
the adult koala can sleep nearly 20 hours per day. Under the sun, the
koalas spread out on the branches, sleeping with they belly exposed to
lower their body temperature. In the evening, they tend to remain hunched
in a tree fork to fight the cold.
Reproduction
The female of the species is ready to breed at the age of 2. The male is
mature only after 5 years. During the mating season, generally coinciding
with the austral summer, the male koala rubs against the branches. A gland
located on its chest secretes an odorous substance that marks its
territory.
The female gives birth approximately 35 days after mating. One of the
principal characteristics of the marsupials lies in the mode of gestation.
The baby does not develop completely in the uterus but emerges from the
maternal womb so premature that it must continue its growth in a ventral
pouch called the marsupium. Contrary to that of the kangaroo, the pouch of
the koala opens downwards. The baby takes refuge there as soon as it is
born. A newborn koala is no larger than a bee and weighs less than half a
gram. It remains attached to a teat for approximately 13 weeks; it opens
its eyes at 22 weeks and grows its first teeth a few days later. The baby
feeds on special excrements produced by its mother to develop the
intestinal flora that will enable it to digest leaves. The young koala
comes out of the maternal pouch at about 6 months of age. But it remains
under the protection of its mother during one whole year. It is believed
that the koala can live approximately 10 to 15 years.
Curiosities
Male koalas can be up to
50% heavier than females.
The koala possesses the
longest caecum of all animals, in proportion of its body weight. This
caecum is a portion of the intestine that can measure up to 2 m in
koalas.
The ancestors of the
koala lived in the rain forest. As the area they colonized became
dryer and dryer, and as eucalyptus slowly replaced the lush forest,
the koalas adapted to their new environment.
Koalas from northern
Australia have a mean weight of 5 to 7 kg. Koalas from the south
weight around 8 to 12 kg and their fur is thicker because of the
colder climate.
The word "koala" means "does
not drink" in the aboriginal Australian language.
To
see the koalas of Queensland
Many airlines such as
Qantas and American offer flights between the main North American cities
and Brisbane or Sydney, in Australia.
Canadian citizens must
hold a valid visa to visit Australia.
There is no malaria or
typhoid fever in Australia; the basic common vaccines are all the
precautions a traveler needs.
The climate of Queensland
comprises a dry season from April to October and a wet season between
November and March.
The local currency
is the Australian dollar (AUD Australia dollars).
Electricity is 240 Volts,
60 cycles, with flat angled outlets.
The time difference
between Montreal (eastern standard time) and Brisbane is 15 h.
For more information on
the destination, contact the Queensland Tourist & Travel Corporation,
Suite 1730, 2 Bloor St. West, Toronto (Ontario) M4W 3E2, Tel. (416)
922-2305.
