Koala

Photographer unknown, "Koala,"picture found in online article: "Koalas may be extinct in seven years," Sydney Morning Herald, last modified 11 Apr. 2007, accessed 1 Nov. 2012, http://www.smh.com.au/news/environment/koalas-may-be-extinct-in-seven-years/2007/04/11/1175971155875.html

            Much like the kangaroo, the koala has a high association with the country of Australia. It is one of the many animals that is native to only Australia. This is because of the eucalyptus trees that serve as food and homes to koalas and can only be found here as well. This uniqueness is advantageous for marketing to tourists, but some Australians are concerned that the natural environment (including koalas) is pushed too hard, and now there is a challenge to protect it.

Economic Value

            I believe that there is no amount of money that is worth putting an animal’s existence at risk, but let’s examine exactly how much worth koalas provide to the tourism industry in Australia. In 1997, Tor Hundloe and Clive Hamiliton conducted a study that evaluated just this. By surveying tourists, Hundloe and Hamiliton found that 65% hoped to see a koala during their visit, and 70% of these people succeeded in doing so. They also found that the koalas were especially popular among the Japanese tourists.[1]

"Beth and Koala," personal photo, Australia Zoo, 6 Oct. 2012.

            When this paper was presented, it was estimated that koala tourism contributed $1.8 billion to the industry. This is equivalent to about 9000 jobs.[2] And these numbers were projected to increase rapidly within the next decade. Although there are no more recent numbers available in such a study, we can assume that the declining koala population has had an influence and will continue to until extinction.

Threat Level

            The major threats to koalas are bushfires, habitat destruction, dog attacks, and road accidents. It is estimated that there are 43,000-80,000 remaining in the wild. Koalas can be found in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. Each of these states has their own legislation for protecting koalas. The International Union of Conservation lists the cuddly marsupials anywhere between vulnerable to rare, depending on location. Internationally, koalas are considered “potentially vulnerable.” [3]

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[1] Tor Hundloe and Clive Hamilton. “Koalas and Tourism: An Economic Evaluation.” (presented at The Australia Institute, July, 1997), 5-6.

[2] ibid., 57.

[3] “The Koala – Endangered or Not?,” Australian Koala Foundation, accessed 1 Nov. 2012, https://www.savethekoala.com/about-koalas/koala-endangered-or-not, n.p.