Aussie marsupial with international appeal

NSW Department of Primary Industries researcher, Stephen Jackson, has taken a fresh look at our much-loved native marsupial in his new book Koala: Origins of an icon.

Dr Jackson said the world-wide popularity of the koala and significance to Australia’s culture and economy, led him to examine the interaction between humans and koalas.

"From a human perspective it’s an interesting history which can be traced back through Aboriginal dreamtime stories, the hunting of koalas for food and fur and our current conservation practices," Dr Jackson said.

"Koalas now play an important economic role in Australia, annually generating more than one billion dollars from zoos and tourism.

"Popular characters inspired by the koala - Blinky Bill, British Koala Brothers, Kwiky the Koala from the USA and Japan’s Blinky and Pinky - underscore the universal appeal of Australia’s iconic mammal."

Overseas interest was highlighted as far back as 1927 when, during an open season on koalas, in one month more than 580,000 were killed for their fur.

"It caused an international furore and became the last open season.  From that point on our efforts have been turned towards conservation of the koala."

While Dr Jackson focuses on topics for readers with a scientific interest in koalas, the 337-page book has been written to entertain and inform the general public.

The evolution of the koala, from the giant koalas which lived 20 million years ago to the present-day koala, has been traced in the book.

Dr Jackson explores the behaviour and biology of the koala and explains how they are able to live on their toxic diet of eucalyptus leaves.

"They use smell to pick the right leaves - those with lower levels of toxins and at least 55 per cent water."

This latest publication written by Dr Jackson follows previous books; Australian mammals: Biology and captive management which won the 2004 Whitney medal and Biology of Australian possums and gliders which was co-authored with Ross Goldingay.

Koala: Origins of an icon is now available at bookstores - in time for Christmas.

Title: Koala: Origins of an Icon
Author: Jackson, Stephen

Publisher: Allen & Unwin
ISBN-10: 1741750318
ISBN-13: 9781741750317
Year Published: 2007
Binding: Hardback