Our Environment

Recent studies in Australia has shown that climate change will have an adverse impact on the already vulnerable Australian Koala.

Studies have shown that increasing temperatures due to climate change pushes up the level of toxins and lowers the nutritional value of the Koala?s only food source, the Eucalyptus gum leaf.

Global warming also has an indirect effect on these cute Australians. Dr Lunney, a leading koala expert with the NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change says. “The further they have to travel, the more frequently they [the Koalas] are on the ground, the more likely they are to be attacked by dogs. And if there is a road in between the patches of trees, they’ll die on the roads,”.

To study how far the Koalas are now travelling in search of food scientists have fitted a population of Koalas with GPS tracking and radio equipment to monitor their nocturnal habits.

The twelve koalas involved in the study, four males and eight females, is being conducted in Gunnedah (about 350 km northwest of Sydney in New South Wales). All the animals have been fitted with collars containing radio transmitters linked to a GPS tracking unit.

An initiative in New South Wales to plant more Gum trees along the banks of creeks and rivers by local farmers looks like it may be having a beneficial effect on the Koalas. Originally developed to help combat soil salinity in Australia, a welcome by product of the program is providing more food for the Koalas and minimising the distance they need to travel to find food.

Climate change or global warming is being recognised more and more as the cause to many of these problems we are seeing around the globe. The good news is that by acting locally we can all help minimise climate changes impact and move to a more sustainable existence, enjoying our lifestyles without penalising our environment.

James – TheTeam@our-environment.com