Sad news for nature-lovers everywhere: research now declares koalas ‘functionally extinct’ in the wild.
No, koalas are not entirely extinct: there are many in zoos, and there are about 80,000 in the wild, according to LADBible. But contrary to what you might think, that’s not a significant number. In fact, according to experts at the Australian Koala Foundation, it means that they are unlikely to be able to produce the next generation.
In a nutshell, ‘functionally extinct’ means that the population number of a species is so insignificant that any of the following can occur:
- The species no longer has an impact on its environment.
- The species has no pairs left that can breed.
- Or, if the species can still breed, it has little chance of avoiding genetic diseases because there are so few of them.
How did we get here? Many factors contribute to their rapidly dwindling numbers.
First of all, the many heatwaves in Australia are not only killing them by the thousands, but are also causing fires that destroy their habitats. Additional destruction is caused by human activity. Thousands died last year alone due to dehydration.
Koalas are also often the victims of hit and runs because they are very slow moving creatures.
The animals have been listed as ‘vulnerable’ since 2012 in many Australian territories that they call home.
We hope that these beautiful creatures stay in this world for hundreds of years to come, but that means that people need to act to help save their environment! The cuddly koalas are in danger of becoming completely extinct in a matter of years if we don’t act now.
We need these precious fur babies to live for our children and grandchildren to see one day. Every one of God’s creatures is a gift, so please share to help save this one!
Habari mbaya kwa wapenzi wa asili kila mahali: utafiti sasa unatangaza koala kuwa "wameangamia" katika mazingira ya asili. Koala ni aina ya wanyama wa asili ambao wanaishi katika bustani za wanyama na wanaishi katika mazingira ya asili, kulingana na LADBible. Lakini kinyume na kile unachoweza kufikiri, hiyo si idadi kubwa. Kwa mujibu wa wataalamu wa Australia, Koala ni hatari sana kwa jamii ya koala. Kwa ufupi, "kuangamia kwa kazi" inamaanisha kwamba idadi ya idadi ya spishi ni ndogo sana hivi kwamba yoyote ya yafuatayo inaweza kutokea: - Spishi hiyo haina tena athari kwa mazingira yake. - Spishi hiyo haina wanandoa waliobaki wanaoweza kuzaliana. - Au, ikiwa spishi hiyo bado inaweza kuzaliana, ina nafasi ndogo ya kuepuka magonjwa ya urithi kwa sababu kuna machache sana. Tulikujaje hapa? Kuna mambo mengi yanayofanya idadi yao ipunguzwe haraka. Kwa sababu ya joto kali, Australia inawaua maelfu ya wanyama hao na pia inawaangamiza kwa moto. Uharibifu zaidi husababishwa na utendaji wa kibinadamu. Maelfu walikufa mwaka jana pekee kwa sababu ya upungufu wa maji mwilini. Mara nyingi koala hupigwa na kukimbia kwa sababu wao ni viumbe wanaotembea polepole sana. Wanyama hao wameorodheshwa kama "watatizo" tangu mwaka 2012 katika maeneo mengi ya Australia ambayo wanaita nyumbani. Tunatumaini kwamba viumbe hawa wazuri watabaki katika ulimwengu huu kwa mamia ya miaka ijayo, lakini hiyo inamaanisha kwamba watu wanahitaji kutenda ili kusaidia kuokoa mazingira yao! Koala wenye kupendeza wako katika hatari ya kutoweka kabisa katika muda wa miaka michache ikiwa hatutende sasa. Tunahitaji watoto hawa wa manyoya ili watoto wetu na wajukuu waone siku moja. Kila mmoja wa viumbe wa Mungu ni zawadi, kwa hiyo tafadhali shiriki kusaidia kuokoa hii moja!