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Climate Change Imperils Koalas

Hotter weather makes eucalyptus less delicious

By Sam Gale Rosen,  Newser Staff

Posted May 7, 2008 12:36 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Koalas' fussy eating habits put them at special risk from global warming, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. Hotter weather makes eucalyptus leaves—the animals' only food source—lower in nutrients and higher in toxic chemicals than they once were. The change could force koalas out of areas of their already dwindling habitat, Australian researchers warn.

And the koalas won't be able to adapt quickly enough to the changing character of their food supply.  "They've got nowhere near enough time to do that," said the lead researcher.

Petra the koala again.
Petra the koala again.   (AP Photo/Rob Griffith)
Tara, a koala at Sydney's Wildlife World, sits with her newborn joey in their enclosure in Sydney, Australia, Tuesday, July 31, 2007.
Tara, a koala at Sydney's Wildlife World, sits with her newborn joey in their enclosure in Sydney, Australia, Tuesday, July 31, 2007.   (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
In this 2006 file photo, an 8-month-old koala joey clings to his mother, Adori, at Sydney's Taronga Zoo. A researcher says koala numbers are under threat from carbon pollution in the atmosphere.
In this 2006 file photo, an 8-month-old koala joey clings to his mother, Adori, at Sydney's Taronga Zoo. A researcher says koala numbers are under threat from carbon pollution in the atmosphere.   (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
Petra the koala at Sydney Wildlife World, in Sydney, Australia, Wednesday, March 5, 2008.
Petra the koala at Sydney Wildlife World, in Sydney, Australia, Wednesday, March 5, 2008.   (AP Photo/Rob Griffith)
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Expert: "It's a very precarious existence"
Telegraph (UK)

More on the science
Press Association

More on the pressure on the koalas' habitat
AFP

 
climate change • Australia • global warming • koala

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