Taya+&+Emma

= Animals special to Australia =

//__ Koala __//
//** What are they? **// The koala is a small bear-like, tree-dwelling, herbivorous marsupial, which averages about 9kg in weight. Its fur is thick and usually an ash grey colour with a tinge of brown in places. Koalas can't see very well. They rely mostly on their hearing and smell. Koalas are very placid animals, and do not move around much, they are only active for about 2 hours of the day. Koalas have strong, sharp claws and long toes to help them climb. The front paws have two thumbs to help them grip branches strongly. The second and third toes on the back legs are joined together to form a grooming claw.

A 2009 report warned that if left alone, the spread of the retrovirus alone could propel koalas to extinction within 30 years.
 * // What is the future like for Koalas? //**

Their numbers have dropped by as much as 95% since the 1990 and this has reduced the number of koalas left in the world to around 100,000. When Australia was first discovered, there were over 10,000,000 koalas in the eucalyptus forests of the new continent. Then, hunters started killing koalas so now, there are very few left. With the risk of koalas becoming extinct, the Australian government now protects these animals.
 * // How many are there? //**

There is only one species of koala. Differences in physical features such as fur colour and body size are attributed to different environmental conditions rather than subspecies differentiation. DNA studies conducted that rather than be separated into subspecies, the koala should be conserved across Australia as a single species.
 * // Which (if any) are endangered? //**

Koalas vary in size and colour depending on where they live in Australia. Koalas found in the southern distributions (Southern NSW and Victoria) tend to be slightly larger and darker than those in the northern areas (Northern NSW and QLD). Koalas are found in eucalypt forests around the Eastern and South Eastern coast of Australia. The majority of wild Koalas are found on private property thus meaning there is no formal protection of this habitat.
 * // Where in Australia are these animals found? //**

//** What sort of environment do they live in? **// Koalas are particular to Eastern Australia, and can be found along the eastern and southeastern coastal regions. They live in cool temperate zones, right up to hot, sub-tropical zones. Koalas live in a range of habitats, as long as there are abundant eucalyptus trees of the sort they prefer. They are found on coastal islands, tall eucalypt forests, bushland and low woodlands inland.

Koalas live a long life. Male Koalas have been reported to live for around 12 years, while the female Koalas live for almost 16 years.
 * // How long do they live? //**

Koalas have a woolly light to dark grey fur with brown and white patches and a cream belly. They have a broad head with small eyes, large furry ears and a distinctive large black nose.
 * // What is their appearance? //**

Koalas are herbivorous, living almost exclusively on eucalyptus leaves. Koalas receive most of the water they need from the eucalyptus leaves, although they have been observed drinking water as well.
 * // What are the animal's requirements for food and shelter? //**

In Queensland, a big problem is development, which has destroyed bushland where koalas live & as housing pushes into what used to be rural Koala habitat, the animals face the possibility of attacks by feral dogs. Some also get run over by cars. Koalas aren't built to cope with droughts and heatwaves so as as climate change develops and gets worse the numbers of koalas are dropping drastically.
 * // Factors which are affecting the animal's ability to live in the wild. //**

//__ Kangaroo __//
A kangaroo is a **marsupial**, native to Australia. Its baby is the size of a jellybean when it is born, and it grows and develops in its mother's pouch. Kangaroos are known for their powerful legs, and all members of the kangaroo family share this characteristic of strong hind legs and short forelegs. There are over 60 varieties of kangaroo, from the largest, the Red kangaroo, through many varieties of wallabies, and down to the smallest member of the kangaroo, the musky-rat kangaroo.
 * What are they? **

The Kangaroo Industry Association of Australia suggests that, in 2002, there were an estimated 58.6 million Kangaroos in Australia. Last year in 2012, there were an estimated 25 million kangaroos left in the wild meaning that the population had dropped by just over 42% in the past 10 years
 * How many are there? **

There are over 60 species of kangaroo, however, many of the lesser-known species are endangered, especially those in the wallaby family. Rock wallabies seem to be most prone to endangerment. But the larger creatures commonly recognised kangaroos, such as Red kangaroos and Grey kangaroos, remain common and not endangered. Smaller species of kangaroos, such as certain wallabies, are endangered. Rock wallabies seem to be the most endangered, with some 15 species known to have become extinct since European settlement.
 * Which (if any) are endangered? **

Kangaroos can cause damage to fences, compete with domestic livestock for grazing and water, and graze and trample crops. Some individual kangaroos harass or threaten humans at picnic areas where they have become accustomed to being fed by members of the public. Black Wallaby grazing can cause damage to young trees in plantations.
 * What are some of the problems being faced by both people and animals in the area? **

Kangaroos can be found throughout basically all of Australia’s landmasses. (See following 2 questions for habitat, food and shelter requirements)
 * Where in Australia are these animals found? **

Kangaroos' habitats include grasslands, mulga scrub, bushland (not too dense) and open plains - wherever there is food, and shade trees. Wallabies and wallaroos like rocky slopes and hillsides, this being their more common territory. However, they will shelter under cliffs and in caves in bad weather. Some members of the kangaroo family can be very small, and these smaller members dig burrows in desert and semi-arid areas, living on insects, larvae, fungi and plant roots. Larger kangaroos, such as the reds and greys, do not live in the desert because there is insufficient food there.
 * What sort of environment do they live in? **

Kangaroo’s dietary and food requirements include grass, shrubs, mother’s milk and water. Kangaroo’s shelter under trees, in caves or under cliff overhangs. They spend most of their time grazing in the open or under trees.
 * What are the animal's requirements for food and shelter? **

Kangaroos are commercially hunted across New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia. They are sold as pet food and leather. Their skins are sold to international shoe companies such as Adidas, Nike, Reebok, Puma, Florsheim and various other European and American shoe manufacturers.
 * Factors which are affecting the animal's ability to live in the wild. **

//__ Green and Gold Bell Frog __//
The Green and Golden Bell Frog’s scientific name is Litoria aurea. The Green and Gold Bell Frog was once one of the most common frog species on Australia's south-eastern coast but unfortunately it has undergone a major decline. The green and golden bell frog has smooth skin, usually green, with a variable pattern of golden brown blotches. It has a creamy-gold stripe along the side of the body, from the eye to the hind legs. The inside of the thighs are distinctly coloured in turquoise-blue. The tadpoles are dark grey-brown with a pinkish tinge to the underside. Females grow to an adult size of approximately 10cm in length, males are smaller rarely exceeding 8cm-brown or golden markings.
 * What are they? **

The numbers of green and golden bell frogs are estimated to have declined by more than 30% in the past 10 years. In contrast to Australia, the frogs are abundant in New Zealand and classified as feral and unprotected
 * How many are there? **

There is only one type of Green and Golden Bell frog and is now classified as globally Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
 * Which (if any) are endangered? **

Populations of Green and Golden Bell Frogs have shown an ability to colonize highly disturbed, artificial sites, such as deserted industrial sites, brick pits and quarry sites. This ability to make use of human-made sites has created a problem for wildlife officials seeking to conserve the remaining frogs, and developers wishing to utilize the property assets of their habitat.
 * What are some of the problems being faced by both people and animals in the area? **

The green and golden bell frog is found in the eastern half of New South Wales and Victoria and the ACT (mostly coast lines)
 * Where in Australia are these animals found? **

It is usually found around dams, creeks and lakes, often where sites have been disturbed by human activity such as disused quarries. Their preferred habitats always have ample vegetation both in and around the water.
 * What sort of environment do they live in? **

The diet of this frog consists of spiders, crickets, beetles, damselflies, butterflies and ants. It also preys on smaller frogs including juveniles of its own species.
 * What are the animal's requirements for food and shelter? **

Many factors are thought to be responsible for the dramatic decline of this species in Australia, including habitat fragmentation, erosion and sedimentation of soil, insecticides and fertilisers contaminating water systems. Another major factor in effecting the conservational status is introduced animals
 * Factors which are affecting the animal's ability to live in the wild. **

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