Koalas crushed, starving as Kangaroo Island's blue gum plantations come down

"As the plantations come, down dislocated koalas are hurting recovering native vegetation."

"Wildlife workers and researchers say Kangaroo Island koalas displaced by the removal of controversial Tasmanian blue gum plantations are starving — and an urgent solution is required...We're seeing koalas starving and being displaced in large numbers and this is just not good enough. Mrs Welz said since November last year, her group had cared for numerous animals with crush injuries."

"What we … would love to see is a sacrificial plantation where healthy koalas can be put in to live out their natural lives," she said."

"Koalas are not indigenous to Kangaroo Island and were introduced in the 1920s...the island's vegetation had not fully recovered from the Black Summer bushfires, and as koalas displaced by the plantation shutdown moved into farmland and areas of roadside vegetation, over-browsing was occurring."

"The spokesperson said the department was aware of the potential impacts on remnant native vegetation as koalas were forced to move, but that it was not considering acquiring or leasing part of the remaining unburnt plantation as a refuge."

"The animals are being displaced as the island's timber plantations come down."

""Locals say a koala management plan is needed as displaced animals are destroying native plants."

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-30/calls-for-koala-management-kangaroo-island-plantations-removed/102754180
#wildlife #habitat #koalas #crush #injuries #plantations #RemnantVegetation #logging #BlackSummer #bushfires #CarbonOffsets #KangarooIsland #translocation

Recently returned from Kangaroo Island. Insane amount of roadkill :(

Also, this tripadvisor review is accurate about the abundance of wildlife whooshing about on the roads.

#southaustralia #australia #KangarooIsland

Referenced link: https://phys.org/news/2023-05-kangaroo-island-ants-play-dead.html
Discuss on https://discu.eu/q/https://phys.org/news/2023-05-kangaroo-island-ants-play-dead.html

Originally posted by Phys.org / @physorg_com: http://nitter.platypush.tech/physorg_com/status/1654143149181116417#m

#KangarooIsland #ants 'play dead' to avoid predators https://www.publish.csiro.au/ZO/ZO22042 https://phys.org/news/2023-05-kangaroo-island-ants-play-dead.html

#travel #wanderlust #KangarooIsland #stokesbay #Australia

🐝 🌏
Bright and early, setting off for another trip around Kangaroo Island.

#KangarooIsland #Road #OutBack #Australia #SouthAustralia #RoadTrip #travel

🐝 🌏
The end of a long day exploring Kangaroo Island. Heading home down this fantastic road.

#KangarooIsland #Road #OutBack #Australia #SouthAustralia #RoadTrip #travel

#Exploring 🐝 🌏

The Red of a stunning #KangarooIsland
#Sunrise over the inlet at #AmericaRiver.

#Australia #Photography #Outback

#Exploring 🐝 🌏

This little field of bobbing puff balls were so beautiful in the morning sunshine. All in miniature as they were only 10cm tall. Growing in a sandy clearing on Kangaroo Island.

#KangarooIsland #Australia #AustralianNative #Grass #Flower #Photography