Got Any Gumleaves Mister?

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 418, 28 July 1928, Page 24

Got Any Gumleaves Mister?

EVERYBODY’S FAVOURITE, THE KOALA, IS TO BE STRICTLY PROTECTED

SHE most harmless and the most delightful of Australian animals is the koala or native In the 10 years an immense slaughter of these little fellows has taken place, notably in Queensland, where as recently as last year nearly one million were destroyed by skin-getters. For a number of years the Wild Life Preservation society of Australia has concentrated on measures aiming at the protection of fast-disappearing marsupials, and has approached the various Governments concerned with a view to the permanent preservation of a creature that has so endeared itself to the populace generally. Recently a special report was published by the society to show the slaughter which had taken place and the grave danger of actual extinction’ of the species which threatened. This has brought much public support already,'and has served to enlarge the membership roll. Mr. Septimus Harwood. M.A., one of the society’s members, has given £2OO to form the nucleus of a fund to be devoted entirely to the preservation and rehabilitation of the native bear. The ultimate aim and hope of the Wild Life Preservation Society is that some benevolent citizen may present to the society a suitable piece of bush land, sufficiently endowed to enable fencing to be put up, and ar rangements made for the permanent care of the area. There native bears may be reared and distributed to suitable places along the eastern half of New South Wales, where protection can be guaranteed.