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Koalas declared endangered

2022 FEB 26

Preliminary   > Environment and Ecology   >   Species extinction & protection   >   Species in news

Why in news?

  • Once found in abundance, Australia’s much-loved koalas have now been officially classified as ‘endangered’ after widespread bushfires, drought and land clearing destroyed much of their eucalyptus-rich habitat.

About Koalas:

About marsupial:

A marsupial is born in a very incomplete state.

Opossums, kangaroos etc are examples of marsupials

They are minute, hairless and with hind limbs only partially formed.

Around 2/3rd of them live in Australia. The other third live mostly in South America.

  • Koala is an arboreal (lives in trees) marsupial.
  • They are endemic to Australia.
  • The typical habitat for Koalas is open eucalypt woodlands, and the leaves of these trees make up most of their diet.
  • In terms of societal behavior, Koalas are asocial animals and typically emotional bonding is seen only between mothers and dependent offspring.
  • IUCN status: Vulnerable

PRACTICE QUESTION

Koalas, widely discussed in news due to their declining population, are endemic to:

(a) Australia

(b) Arctic

(c) Antarctica

(d) Sahara

Answer