Much of Australia is suffering from a severe and extended drought. The places that aren't drought affected are recovering from recent floods!
Here in Adelaide, we've just broken the record for the most number of days with a temperature over 35C in a capital city- we are currently in day 13 with a few days still to go before it is expected to cool down.
Animals are among those to suffer. Koalas are going into the suburbs looking for water - drinking from dog bowls, falling into swimming pools, even entering houses through cat doors.
I went into a cool shaded area of my garden today and found this koala sitting just a foot or two from the ground in a willow tree - rather unusual as they prefer 30' up in a Eucalypt.
I couldn't resist taking a shot or two. Unfortunately, all were taken through a 7' wire fence I have around my property to keep foxes out. By the time I walked around, the koala heard me coming and climbed way up the tree.
Hope things get better Charles for the wildlife, obviously it may present some photographic opportunities. Koala sure looks docile but those claws earn some respect! Thanks for sharing the pics and story, stay cool.
what's the name of your special boy? He must have one....
I didn't think Koalas normally drink water, but I guess either Animal Planet/Science Channel are wrong in that. Or is this a result of the severe drought?
You got close to this koala. Congratulations on the encounter. Great close up shots & I appreciate all the extra information. I'm about to post some shots I took of an unusually active Koala at the L.A. Zoo I got last weekend....
Thanks for sharing these wonderful shots & the education...... And they say Global Warming isn't happening....
what's the name of your special boy? He must have one....
My boy was called Tucker by the wildlife carers who raised him, and we kept this most appropriate name. "Tucker" in Australian means "food". And we soon discovered who was eating the indoor plants (not me!), why the flowers were disappearing from vases and who was taking the fruit from the table. He thinks nothing of helping himself to any of his favorites - grapes, apples, pears, almonds and so on.
Lil Judd wrote:
I didn't think Koalas normally drink water, but I guess either Animal Planet/Science Channel are wrong in that. Or is this a result of the severe drought?
Koalas usually derive sufficient moisture from the eucalypt leaves they eat, but with the drought, the leaves just do not contain enough moisture. Hence, we are faced with sight of thirsty koalas actively seeking out water where ever they can. People are now leaving out water containers for koalas much as you would for a dog.
In the Flinders Ranges to the north of Adelaide, there are River Red Gums hundreds of years old dying because of the drought, along with kangaroos and wallabies. When the water holes dry out, the animals have no-where to go. The ecology of these areas is being permanently affected.
Charles
Edited by sejac on Mar 16, 2008 at 12:25 PM GMT (Reason: spelling)
Holy smokes!! I didn't realise you guys (and gals, of course!) were having such a tough time down-under. We hear about as much of goings-on in Australia as I'm sure you hear about what's going on in Canada (not much, in case you were curious).
I feel so bad when animals suffer due to what might be (and very likely is) global climate change due to human activity (read, 'greed'!).
Hope you and your all your animal friends receive some respite from the unrelenting heat very soon! And lots of rain, of course!!
Anti Matter wrote:
Holy smokes!! I didn't realise you guys (and gals, of course!) were having such a tough time down-under. We hear about as much of goings-on in Australia as I'm sure you hear about what's going on in Canada (not much, in case you were curious).
I feel so bad when animals suffer due to what might be (and very likely is) global climate change due to human activity (read, 'greed'!).
Hope you and your all your animal friends receive some respite from the unrelenting heat very soon! And lots of rain, of course!!
Frank
Thanks for your best wishes, Frank. When a city like Adelaide sets a new record for the longest heatwave (14 days and still going), the hottest overnight temperature for March (about 31C - that's how low it went overnight!) , together with the drought, it's becoming harder to mount an argument against climate change.
With water restrictions, people in Adelaide are permitted to water their gardens with a hose for only two hours a week.
I've been hearing about the problems on Science Channel & Animal Planet & I think on National Geographic Channel as well. It's very distressing to know this is what's going on.
Glad to hear people are trying to help the wildlife. Most upsetting to this animal lover.
Glad Tucker has such a great second home. I wouldn't mind taking care of him as well.
I wish for you all spread out rains. In appropriate portions.
Informative and emotive post. 15 days in a row of 35C+ doesn't go without notice up here in the northern suburbs where it's even hotter.
I know this photo sucks. It's a crop from a poorly focused shot showing a kangaroo eating a flower, but it backs up your story about Tucker and your flowers being eaten. This one was at the Bordertown Wildlife Park.
Thanks for the comment, John. Sometimes I wish the kangaroo diet was a bit more limited. Unfortunately, it can also extend to the bark of trees, magnolias etc. They are often very curious to try newly planted seedlings - just to see what they taste like!
