unique and unusual animal. Although it is commonly thought of as a bear, the koala is actually a

marsupial, one of the three groups of mammals, and is more closely related to the bandicoot and

the American opossum than any species of bear (Smith and Harman, 1997). The koala is almost

exclusively known to most people as the cute and furry animal residing throughout the continent

of Australia. Although this is true for the most part, the koala is a much more intriguing animal.

A turbulent journey from pre-history through today's struggle to coexist with human neighbors,

very distinct mating rituals and reproductive habits, and most importantly, the destruction of their

very precise habitat and the consequences this has for the existence of the koala species, are

Before the history of koalas is discussed in depth, a physical description of the koala is in

order. Koalas, as mentioned before, are marsupials, the female having a pouch in which their

young develop. Their pouch faces the rear and has a drawstring type muscle that the mother

Buckingham, Scott. 4 April 2001. Cute, cuddly and starving. http://more.abcnews.

fashion clothing but as a cheap and durable fur. By the turn of the century, koala populations

through his bellows. Foreplay is elaborate and can be very rough and is usually initiated by the

makes up the continents of Australia, South America, and Antarctica; koalas in particular

dependent koala less and less habitat in which survival is possible. This deforestation also

arrival, the Europeans quickly learned how easily koalas are captured and killed (Phillips, 1994).

and physiology of reproduction. All marsupials lack a complete placenta which permits the

vital eucalyptous forests of the koala are being cleared at record pace, which leaves the

throughtout the eastern coast. Development and deforestation have dictated where eucalyptous

upwards of 30,000 skins per year were being sent to London. These furs were not used for high-

koala population - their numbers are doubling every three years - is stripping Australia's

Some common words found in the essay are:
Habits Koalas, Smith Harman, Stasis Koalas, Australia Wright, History Koala, Conclusion Koalas, South Australia, America Antarctica, Australia Serventy, Plight Koala, koala population, wright 2000, phillips 1994, eucalyptous forests, phillips 1995, low protein, fiber low protein, strahan 1995, south australia, harman 1997, smith harman, low protein diet, koalas highly unique, smith harman 1997,
Approximate Word count = 1888
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)