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NEWS > HEALTH > AUSTRALIAN KOALAS FINDING STRESS A KILLER
AUSTRALIAN KOALAS FINDING STRESS A KILLER
October 3 2009
Adelaide, Australia – The Koala bear has long been a symbol and national treasure for Australia. The sedate marsupial is indigenous to the continent and its cuddly demeanour has made it a favourite of Australians and of people around the world. 
Living most of its life in trees the Koala has gained a reputation as a placid and genial animal, most at home resting in the sun and munching on eucalyptus leaves. Beneath that appearance though is a silent killer threatening the very existence of the national treasure.
Stress, it has been said, is a killer. In human beings the effects of stress can cause innumerable side effects ranging from heart issues to mental breakdown. Though studied thoroughly, the total effect of stress on human beings has never been fully determined even as millions around the world are felled by its effects. Now a new study from a team of researchers in Australia indicates that the normally placid Koala may be succumbing to stress in much the same way that human beings do as their society becomes more and more complex and fresh pressures come to bear on the animal.
“Koalas are in diabolical trouble. Numbers show that even in their stronghold, koala numbers are declining alarmingly. This is a very serious threat to our national animal and one of the most distinct animals alive on the planet and we must do what we can to ensure the long term survival of this animal,” said University of Queensland researcher Frank Carrick. “Relationships and money troubles are two of the most significant causes of stress to these animals and we must do what we can to prevent those factors from taking hold of the Koala population. We are recommending that the government take significant and drastic action to reduce the stress factors affecting these animals in order to ensure their survival in the long term.”
According to government officials, Koala’s in the country have no economic system or form of trade so they are unable to do anything in respect to those areas of stress.
Officials are planning on a system of counselling that will allow Koala families to opportunity to communicate with each other in a safe environment though their lack of speech and higher reasoning may make that difficult.
“The Koala is a national treasure and is very important to our national identity and to the natural environment but there are limitations as to what we can do in an effort to resolve the problems they are encountering. We are not dismissing the concerns of the researchers we simply need to attack this problem in a sensible and logical way,” said South Australian government spokesperson David Cambridge. “Many of the problems affecting the Koala are problems that affect normal human Australians and those have to be our priority. Besides that, it is very difficult to work with Koalas in the standard way. They have very small brains and no level of vocal communication which makes any kind of counselling an obstructive challenge.”
Government officials also stated that human or Koala, it is not their responsibility to ensure healthy private relationships or help those who are capable of helping themselves.
“Animals have issues when they come into contact with humans and that can cause some of these issues. Reduction in habitat happens with animals and humans and that can cause serious levels of stress which can often lead to diseases that cause illness and death,” said Scrape TV Zoology analyst Cambridge Walker. “The question then is whether or not you dedicate significant levels of dollars and personnel to the cause for a species that really is causing its own problems. Really the best option for the animals is to tell them to just relax and breathe.”
One of the leading causes of stress in humans, major holidays such as Christmas, is not believed to be a factor in Koala illness.
Lauren Hebert, Health Correspondent
NEWS > HEALTH > AUSTRALIAN KOALAS FINDING STRESS A KILLER
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