Sunday

Last time I looked there were trees

Clear-cutting an entire area can be devastating to animals that depend upon a certain type of tree to survive. Koalas eat mainly the leaves of the eucalyptus tree and can starve to death without it.

Recently a sub-adult male koala was discovered sitting atop the remnants of what was once his home in Vittoria State Forest, New South Wales, Australia. The logging operation had been approved by the forestry service to remove all the trees but the poor little koala was totally confused upon returning to his previous home.

"Koalas would have been moved out of their homes in preparation for planned logging activities," said WIRES ( Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service) general manager, Leanne Taylor.

"It is common for koalas to roam back to their home range afterwards and become confused to find nothing there. A worker noticed a koala had been sitting stationary in broad daylight on top of wood piles for over an hour."


The story of the perplexed marsupial did however have a happy ending. It was found to have an injury on its eye, so it was transferred to a local vet to be treated. Afterwards it was relocated once again back into a different patch of forest. Forestry workers also found three other koalas at the clear-cut site and they were transferred as well.


Conservation Status of Koala Bears -

In 2008, the International Union for Conservation of Nature listed the koala under Least Concern for the following reasons: "its wide distribution, presumed large population, and because it is unlikely to be declining at nearly the rate required to qualify for listing in a threatened category". Australian policy makers declined a 2009 proposal to include the koala in the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.[ In 2012, the Australian Government listed koala populations in Queensland and New South Wales as Vulnerable, because of a 40% population decline in the former and a 33% decline in the latter.

Populations in Victoria and South Australia appear to be abundant; however, the Australian Koala Foundation argues that the exclusion of Victorian populations from protective measures is based on a misconception that the total koala population is 200,000, whereas they believe it is probably less than 100,000.

The koala was hunted almost to extinction in the early 20th century, largely for its fur. Millions of furs were traded to Europe and the United States, and the population has not fully recovered. Extensive cullings occurred in Queensland in 1915, 1917, and again in 1919, when over one million koalas were killed with guns, poisons and nooses. The public outcry over these cullings was probably the first wide-scale environmental issue that rallied Australians.


Despite the growing movement to protect native species, the poverty brought about by the drought of 1926–28 led to the killing of another 600,000 koalas during a one-month open season in August 1927. Koala skins were widely traded early in the twentieth century.

One of the biggest anthropogenic threats to the koala is habitat destruction and fragmentation. In coastal areas, the main cause of this is urbanization, while in rural areas habitat is cleared for agriculture. Native forest trees are also taken down to be made into wood products. Since the European arrival, localized deforestation of eucalyptus in Australia ranges from 33 to 93%. In addition, Acacia habitats, which can also support koala populations, declined by 80% overall. In 2000, Australia ranked fifth in the world by deforestation rates, having cleared 564,800 hectares (1,396,000 acres).

The geographical range of the koala has shrunk by more than 50% since European arrival, largely due to fragmentation of habitat in Queensland. The koala's "vulnerable" status in Queensland and New South Wales means that developers in these states must consider the impacts on this species when making building applications. In addition, koalas live in many protected areas.


While urbanization can pose a threat to koala populations, the animals can survive in urban areas provided there are enough trees, though urban koalas are vulnerable to collisions with vehicles and attacks by domestic dogs. Injured koalas are often taken to wildlife hospitals and rehabilitation centers. In a 30-year retrospective study performed at a New South Wales koala rehabilitation center, it was found that trauma (usually resulting from a motor vehicle accident or dog attack) was the most frequent cause of admission, followed by symptoms of the bacterial disease chlamydiosis.

Wildlife caretakers are issued with special permits but have to release the animals back into the wild when they are either well enough or, in the case of joeys, old enough. As with most native animals, the koala cannot legally be kept as a pet in Australia or anywhere else.

Since 1870, koalas have been introduced to several coastal and offshore islands, including Kangaroo Island and French Island. Their numbers have grown to the thousands, and since the islands are not large enough to sustain such high koala numbers, over-browsing has become a problem. Since the 1990s, government agencies have tried to control their numbers by culling, but public and international outcry has forced the use of translocation and sterilization instead.- Wikipedia

Responses to "Koala is confused after it's home is cut down (Photos)"

  1. Anonymous says:

    It's outrageous what humans can do to nature!

  2. Anonymous says:

    Greed of the human race is destroying wild life on planet Earth !!and we suppose tobe the caretakers of these animals. So SAD !!

  3. Anonymous says:

    Just another example at the lengths greed can take "people" this should not happen, magnificent creatures should be left in their home, with their families, free and undisturbed.

  4. Unknown says:

    This irritates me to know end. I am an animal lover and it just makes me sick to my stomach that there are so many companies and corporations who are destroying the homes of wild animals!!

  5. Unknown says:

    HE was not confused! HE IS DEVASTATED! this is inexcusable! Makes me sick!

  6. John says:

    What is wrong with People anyway. I guess they did not read up on their Nature Books about this precious Animal and, their Habitate.

  7. Anonymous says:

    A real tragedy for the poor animals and the future of the human race. The gluttony of people never ceases to amaze me.GREED IS NOT GOOD! And humans don't have a corner on the world like evangelical "Christians" like to say God made the world for humans to enjoy and consume they are made in the image of God. I say all the world has spirit, and when you destroy it YOU are the DEVIL!

  8. Morgana says:

    Excellent, as allways. Thank you.

  9. Anonymous says:

    While I feel for the Koalas, I still get a kick out of the people that go all crazy about animals getting uprooted. You do realize that when cavemen crawled out of their caves and started to build cities, not a single one of them went, hey, lets only build on spots where there are no forests/animals.

    Every city in every country on this planet was built by doing exactly what happened to these koala's. Its not Greed, its human expansion and as long as our population keeps growing its going to keep happening.

    So, before you go back to you condo's/apartments/townhouses and houses, remember, you are living in something built from cutting down forests, (to get stone/wood) and in areas that were cleared to make room for cities. You live in some poor animals natural home that was taken away from them.

  10. Why don't people take some responsibility and cull their herd. Instead of telling the animals to do it? They were there first and they should be taken care of. I see the picture and I cry for the loss of the koala's home. How would humans like to come back and find their home destroyed. It is the same for them. If we as humans do not take a stand, we will have destroyed all animals on earth and then would we have a right to cry? I think not. So today, do the right thing and be there for all animals rights.

  11. Anonymous says:

    Absolutely terrible for that poor baby. He seems so lost and lonely. Total insanity. Mankind destroys everything!

  12. Anonymous says:

    this is such bullshit man leave these poor animals alone ,how would they like if they tore down the home they live in with out permission .these are GODS creatures!! leave there homes alone!!! what right do they have to do these things!!!!! Native American Female

  13. Anonymous says:

    Didn't marry or have children , only to grow finding the void seemingly double filled . As we grow , we are endangered .....our dullness assimilates a failure species ?
    Are we a genetic mistake from another world , no longer ? Religion , ego ..is it from disease or parasite settled in after the ice age ?

  14. Wow. How sickening.

  15. Anonymous says:

    For the people that think the end of the world will be a dramatic movie like ending, it will not... We will wish it was. It will take many years of suffering and most refuse to see that it has already started and will continue to get worse with time. We are killing everything on the planet and to make things worse our population continues to grow so the destruction of all living things will increase accordingly. The longer we continue in this direction the closer we get to the end and the height of pain will not arrive until we reach the end.

  16. I agree Angel! says:

    I agree Angel!

  17. Unknown says:

    this really sucks

  18. Anonymous says:

    I thought only America was stupid enough to clear cut.

  19. Anonymous says:

    We are an invasive species, but we could stop the destruction if we decided to.

  20. Unknown says:

    Devastating to see this.

  21. Anonymous says:

    This is so sad I can even describe it. How can you be so heartless. Maybe some one should put the people who do this in jail, knock their house down while they are gone and let them out to discover what has happened!! Wonder how they would like that???

  22. Hoping this lil' guy was relocated to an area where he can survive. And, why must a WHOLE area be cleaned out?!! God bless this lil koala and I pray he will be okay. Stupid humans!!!!

  23. Anonymous says:

    If you feel for this koala than stop having kids, increasing the human population will endanger every animal. Simplest solution is to stop human breeding we are like roaches on this planet. But most of you will be outraged and continue blaming others and creating children like viginas are clown cars

  24. Graceandmercylove says:

    This is what they plan to do to ALL LIVING CREATURES

  25. Anonymous says:

    Telling people to stop having children is just as bad as killing the koala. Think before you speak.

  26. Anonymous says:

    Humanity...Gods greatest mistake. We are living forever and some countries breed like insects. Give it 50 years and there will be NO animals.Just people, insects and canibalism

  27. Sonjche says:

    NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
    NOT AGAIN!!!
    Shall we beg you, argue with you or BEAT YOU!?!?! You monsters!!!
    Being greedy is only in human nature
    Can't you ever see into animals; eyes? :'(
    You, things without compassion! Yes, you are things, objects and nothing more for me!

  28. Unknown says:

    I'm disgusted to hear about this...

  29. Anonymous says:

    Want to stop habitat destruction and deforestation? Stop eating animals. Animal agriculture accounts for most of this on Earth, for grazing land and land to grow crops for animal feed. We don't need it, and it's destroying our natural environment. We can feed all humans on Earth using a third of the land and resources as we currently do if we move to plant-based diets.

    We all want change, but how many of us are willing to change our habits?

  30. Unknown says:

    Een zee van waarheid!!!!!

  31. Anonymous says:

    The end of f****** world, money..

  32. this is effing unbelievable!this is not improvement! those selfish decision.

  33. Rxm says:

    Must be hard to be hurt and wont be able to say anything. Heart breaking��

  34. Anonymous says:

    koalas dont have feelings. scientifically proven.

  35. Anonymous says:

    The people typing these comments must feel really upset from inside their nice cozy WOODEN home. Before typing that people are "greedy" and that's why this is happening, maybe think about all the things you take for granted every day that the forestry industry provides you with. Hmmmmmm now YOU'RE one of these greedy people ..... Hmmmmmmmmmmmm

  36. Dawn says:

    Anonymous. I totally agreed with you. To animals lovers or earth loves , if you dont reduce as much as your uneccessary consumption, the corp will continue to cut and steel earth resources to product for you to buy.

  37. Tragic. I cannot get this little guys face out of my head. It is exactly how we would feel coming home one day and seeing nothing there, just dust. Why? corporate greed and a populus that must wake up! We must all vote better with our wallet! My role is educating on ways to detox our daily lifestyle, with sustainable and organic goods, home and personal care products. I chose not to have children. Recently I switched to bamboo toilet paper, towels and tissues and in 2016 went vegan. The clear cutting for papergoods and cattle must stop. Every day I learn more and incorporate a more sustainable less damaging way to live. And I do it for this little guy and souls just like him.♥

  38. Anonymous says:

    Literlly made me cry so sad humans are terrible only plants animals and and stoners (the nice ones) are good anymore !!! All hail trees !! !!

  39. Anonymous says:

    We failed as a human��

  40. Dalea says:

    Conservation expert should plant trees or natural habitats for these koalas.

  41. Anonymous says:

    we are here to take care of what has been given to us and not ruin it.
    if only these animals can speak and move like how we humans does they would've shouted and burned our homes as well. may it be natural or man made, we as humans should take the initiative to remake what has been destroyed, at least we did not give up and showed to them that we are all on hands to help each other. if you want something then work for it don't ruin something just to get what you want. greediness will not bring you any better and we can't even bring these things to heaven that made us temporarily happy, because true happiness doesn't count on how many cars or phones or bags you have but how good and kind and pure you are, i mean if we can buy lots of expensive things again and again then maybe we can also use our money in a good way. REMEMBER THAT YOUR NOT THE ONLY ONE LIVING IN THIS WORLD AND A LOT ARE ASKING FOR YOUR HELP YET YOUR BEING AN IGNORANT PERSON. USE WHAT YOU HAVE IN A GOOD AND SAFE WAY NOT ONLY FOR YOURSELF BUT ALSO TO THOSE WHO NEED IT MORE.

  42. Madelon says:

    The aboriginals lived in Australia for over 20000 yrs without disrupting nature. 250 yrs ago the western world entered Australia and see what happened...............

  43. Anonymous says:

    Fuck the popo!

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