AUSTRALIA’S KOALAS.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20256, 27 July 1937, Page 9

AUSTRALIA’S KOALAS.

DANGER OF EXTINCTION. CLUB FORMED TO SAVE THEM. (From a Correspondent.) SYDNEY, July 16. The koala, the quaint little “native bear,” Is the subject of frequent publicity. Beloved by tourists, the travel industry has used it throughout the world as a lure for bringing visitors to Australia, and each capital city has Its “bear farm,” where the animals, which are slowly approaching extinction, can be preserved, and Incidentally photographed and petted by visitors. It Is only In recent years that the danger of the koala’s extinction has been generally realised. It Is rigorously protected In all States where It exists, though Queensland occasionally deolares open seasons, which Invariably arouse hostile public comment. Once More In the News. The koala has burst once more Into the news this week because of a cablegram from London reporting the Duchess of Kent’s desire to possess one, after hearing her brother-in-law, the Duke of Gloucester, describe them and seeing his films of specimens. Rut, the royal wish Is unlikely to be satisfied. Koala experts in various parts have offered to supply one, but it is unlikely that the authorities will permit Its export, owing to the difficulty of keeping it alive on the voyage and to the likely effect of England’s climate. Mr Noel Burnet, Sydney’s leading expert, said: “To keep a koala alive until It reached Englahd would be difiloult. I don’t see how the little chap could be kept alive for long. Though there are numerous eucalyptus plantations in England, the chances of the right type of leaf being secured for the bear are remote, and the animal would probably not live for more than a couple of weeks. The koala is most fastidious and eats only seleot leaves. If folk In England planted the right types of gumtrees perhaps a bear could live there in ten years’ time. I am afraid, however, that if nothing of a practical nature is done to rehabilitate the culture of the koala, we will have no bears to send in ten years.” Bpeclal Club Formed. It is to save the koala from extinction that the Koala Club of Australia came into existence this week. Laboratories will be established for conducting scientific research in ■support of the objects of the club. The club will work in close conjunction with Mr Burnet, who is described as “the greatest living authority on the koala.” An executive of the club said that up till 1027 there were millions of koalas in the country. Their number did not, now o\coe,d five figures. Serious disease had taken ils toll and to save tlie bears a fourfold study would he made—of disease, habits, feeding and breeding. But Micro is one prominent Sydney man who holds the less general view, lie is Mr Percy Hunter, an expert in overseas publicity. ]| o dislikes the kuaU because of its exploitation for tourist publicity. “If koalas soon become extinct it will be a dashed good job,” tie said. “To day \ustralians merely as he progenitors of the koala hear. In many parts of the world this confounded animal is our only title to fame. 11. is hit that we should have, to live, perpetually in the shadow of these ridiculous little creatures. The sooner wo see the last of them the better.”