To ensure the koala can thrive into the 21st century, they must be part of society. With this in mind, it is important to reference last week's announcement that koala milk could provide society the protection of super bugs in the near future. Anything is possible! The koala is the fourth marsupial to be genetically sequenced - with the Australian Museum Research Institution finding over 26,000 genes.
As koalas numbers drop off due to urbanization, Australian society needs a simplified approach to include the koala in their daily lives. According to our 3-step theory, the third step needs to be fully understood.
One of the biggest factors that contribute to negative outcomes in the koala industry (and for the koala) is due to the myth that koalas cannot provide economic value to Australian families.
They certainly can if given the opportunity.
Sure, they aren't an asset that will offer an immediate cash flow like farm animals. The koala offers a different set of opportunities that include being part of an investment into long-term Australian development and infrastructure, combined with the housing and construction industries. Australia is constantly growing, and the vast areas of open grasslands can be imagined as a blank canvas to a painting in which koalas can be part of the Australian social infrastructure.
Thus, STEP 3 can be advantageous in many ways, particularly in koala translocation programs, as many Australians don't understand that koalas can't simple be moved from one location to the next.
Why? Because koalas (and their families) living in one region for generations become accustomed to a certain area. The local soil and trees provide a particular landscape that they are used to. Only a very low percentage of koalas in a large grouping will survive a dramatic shift in location.
By slowly introducing captivity management practices, we can begin to change their behaviour and provide the koala with the essential tools to cope (and thrive) in a new environment. This practice will also help formulate more positive koala outcomes that are required for state governments around Australia to realise the role that the koala plays in society and the Australian economy. This can be done using by implementing the following objectives:
1. By introducing the koala industry to the housing industry and creating new and innovative development goals that promote a new form of Australia's housing with the iconic species;
2. Filling gaps in understanding regarding koala translocation through increased education (using our Third Step process);
3. Introduce translocation practices under the guidance of specialist with captive management experience;
4. By involving the captive sector in decision making processes and having clear communication lines between the first process and the second process to create a more coherent work structure for positive koala conservation outcomes;
5. To create a viable way for the koala to contribute towards Australian tourism and illustrate its economic value;
These steps would help boost the profile of the koala, add directly to the community, and allow the koala to earn their way up the ranks of other industries.
The next article: Article 22, is the cultural differences between States
52 Articles, 4 themes 1 story