KOALA

Koalas are an icon of Australian wildlife, but there is much more to them than meets the eye.

Even in a country filled with peculiar creatures, the koala stands out as one of the oddest. Cute and (largely) inoffensive, they attract attention from locals and tourists alike, but there is still a great deal of mystery about their lives. Australian biologist Clode, who has long been fascinated by koalas, sets out to fill some of the gaps, combining her own observations with the work of experts and researchers. Perhaps the strangest thing about the animals is that their diet consists almost exclusively of eucalyptus leaves, which are poisonous to most animals. However, notes the author, they have strong teeth that thoroughly grind the leaves as well as a remarkably complex liver. Clode sees koalas as a wonder of evolution in their suitability to the arboreal life. They seem to be designed for sitting in trees, with toughened skin on their rumps, and their hands—not paws, insists Clode—have an extra thumb, useful for climbing and gripping. There is, however, a downside to specialization. Even small changes to their environment can be devastating. For decades, it looked as if koalas might become extinct due to land clearing and bushfires, but laws to protect their habitats and innovative relocation programs have seen their numbers increase to sustainable levels. Some have even migrated into suburban parks. In a few areas, writes Clode, the problem is overpopulation, with so many of them that the food sources are depleted. In other areas, the numbers remain low, and the reasons are unclear. Diseases, particularly a dangerous strain of chlamydia, are a constant threat. Nevertheless, they seem to be a remarkably resilient species. In this charming and intelligent narrative, we get the sense that people will be happily interacting with koalas for a long time to come.

A vivid journey into a fascinating corner of the natural world.