Koala
by Lesley Evered
Title
Koala
Artist
Lesley Evered
Medium
Photograph - Pentax K30
Description
A koala (awake!) in a small independantly owned zoo in the Peel Region of Western Australia. This animal is now classed as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. ...........
This picture has been featured in the following 11 groups:
Animal Photographs, 11th May 2020........
Four Legged Friends, 18th May 2020.........
10 Plus, 30th October 2020....
FAA Portraits, 1st November 2020...
Just Perfect, 5th November 2020...
Bedroom Art Gallery, 6th November 2020...
Positive Energy, 14th January 2021...
Macro Marvels, 20th May 2022....
Western Australia, 20th May 2022...
If The Image Excites You, 23rd May 2022...
Your Very Best Photography, 23rd May 2022...
PLUS - featured in Best Of The Best section on the home page of Wisconsin Flowers And Scenery Group - 10th February 2021.....
Featured in Best Of The Best section on the home page of Wisconsin Flowers And Scenery Group on 22nd May 2022....
Nominated by another artist for a Special Feature in the group, Camera Art, 13th July 2022....
The koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) is an arboreal herbivorous marsupial native to Australia. It is the only extant representative of the family Phascolarctidae and its closest living relatives are the wombats, which comprise the family Vombatidae. The koala is found in coastal areas of the mainland's eastern and southern regions, inhabiting Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. It is easily recognisable by its stout, tailless body and large head with round, fluffy ears and large, spoon-shaped nose. The koala has a body length of 60–85 cm (24–33 in) and weighs 4–15 kg (9–33 lb). Fur colour ranges from silver grey to chocolate brown. Koalas from the northern populations are typically smaller and lighter in colour than their counterparts further south.
Koalas typically inhabit open eucalypt woodlands, and the leaves of these trees make up most of their diet. Because this eucalypt diet has limited nutritional and caloric content, koalas are largely sedentary and sleep up to 20 hours a day. They are asocial animals, and bonding exists only between mothers and dependent offspring. Adult males communicate with loud bellows that intimidate rivals and attract mates. Males mark their presence with secretions from scent glands located on their chests. Being marsupials, koalas give birth to underdeveloped young that crawl into their mothers' pouches, where they stay for the first six to seven months of their lives. These young koalas, known as joeys, are fully weaned around a year old. Koalas have few natural predators and parasites, but are threatened by various pathogens, such as Chlamydiaceae bacteria and the koala retrovirus.
Koalas were hunted by Indigenous Australians and depicted in myths and cave art for millennia. The first recorded encounter between a European and a koala was in 1798, and an image of the animal was published in 1810 by naturalist George Perry. Botanist Robert Brown wrote the first detailed scientific description of the koala in 1814, although his work remained unpublished for 180 years. Popular artist John Gould illustrated and described the koala, introducing the species to the general British public. Further details about the animal's biology were revealed in the 19th century by several English scientists. Because of its distinctive appearance, the koala is recognised worldwide as a symbol of Australia. Koalas are listed as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The animal was hunted heavily in the early 20th century for its fur, and large-scale cullings in Queensland resulted in a public outcry that initiated a movement to protect the species. Sanctuaries were established, and translocation efforts moved to new regions koalas whose habitat had become fragmented or reduced. Among the many threats to their existence are habitat destruction caused by agriculture, urbanisation, droughts and associated bushfires, some related to climate change. Increased habitat loss may also increase risks from vehicle traffic, dog attacks, pesticides in waterways, and increased food competition. (Wikipedia)..........
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Uploaded
May 11th, 2020
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Comments (61)
Wayne Moran
So darn adorable.
Lesley Evered replied:
Thanks very much Wayne....I totally agree with you!!! He looks ready for a cuddle!
Adrienne Wilson
Awww...what a wonderful capture. Beautiful closeup of such an adorable creature. L/F
Lesley Evered replied:
Thanks so much Adrienne for your lovely comments and also for the like and favourite too.
Nancy Griswold
Spectacular capture, a divine and lovely animal I have such great compassion for them since the fires in Australia, they are such a great gift to us all FAV++
Lesley Evered replied:
Thanks Nancy for such lovely comments and I so agree with you about the distress they must have felt with forest fires. Thank you very much for favouriting this one, most appreciated
Eckart Mayer
Very cute shot Lesley, L/F and => FOLLOWING
Lesley Evered replied:
Thank you very much Eckart for your lovely comment and for liking and favouriting this one and thanks too for adding me to your follow list.....all greatly appreciated
Stephanie Moore
So cuddly, Lesley - marvellous shot -- FL
Lesley Evered replied:
Thanks very much Stephanie....they do look really adorable!! Thanks for the like and favouriting too.
Loredana Gallo Migliorini
Amazing shot Lesley! Fl
Lesley Evered replied:
Thanks very much Loredana....I really appreciate your liking and favouriting this one.
Linda Howes
Awww so cute Lesley! l/f
Lesley Evered replied:
Very many thanks Linda and thanks too for the like and favourite, most appreciated
Wayne Moran
aaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwww so darn adorable.
Lesley Evered replied:
Loooooove your comment Wayne!!!! Thanks too for the favourite....most appreciated
Brian Tada
So very precious, what an adorable koala portrait, Lesley! Beautiful photography work!
Lesley Evered replied:
Thanks so much Brian for such lovely comments on this picture and also very many thanks for favouriting it....most appreciated
Nancy Griswold
So precious and a tribute to the wonderful wildlife FAV++
Lesley Evered replied:
Thanks very much Nancy and thanks for the favouriting too. It is thanks to zoos that we are able to observe these and other very shy creatures.
Conni Schaftenaar
AWWWWWWW! the sweetest little face! great photo, Lesley!
Lesley Evered replied:
I agree Conni.....this one looks so adorable. No wonder people love them!!! Thanks so much for writing and for your lovely comments.
Jeff Burgess
Congrats, Lesley, on the featuring of this critter.... Nice capture.
Lesley Evered replied:
Thank you very much Jeff for your kind congratulations....I was lucky to see this one awake!!
Luther Fine Art
Congratulations! Your camera art has been nominated as a Special Feature by a fellow artist Camera Art member for your superb art in Camera Art Group!! You are invited to post your art in the "Special Feature Archive Discussion" in the Camera Art group. Please share the love by nominating a fellow artist whose work is in Camera Art You can do that in the specific "Artist Special Feature Nomination" discussion in the Camera Art Group.
Lesley Evered replied:
This is terrific news, thank you so much Pamela and many thanks to the fellow artist who nominated it. I couldn't be more delighted.
Donna Kennedy
Such a cute and lovable photo Lesley, I want a hug!!...F/L/T 💗
Lesley Evered replied:
Thank you for such lovely and heartfelt comments Donna and many thanks too for the F/L/T and the lovely red heart.
Johanna Zettler
Nice shot of the cute animal.
Lesley Evered replied:
Thanks very much Johanna for your really nice comment and also many thanks for the favouriting.
Lois Bryan
Oh sooo adorable!!! Congratulations on your Best of the Best feature in WFS!!!! f
Lesley Evered replied:
Thank you so much Lois for such lovely comments and congratulations and also for making this one a favourite
Rick Hansen
Perfect! L/F
Lesley Evered replied:
Thank you very much Rick for your kind comment and for the like and favourite....most appreciated
Jeannie Rhode
Lesley, Congratulations on your Feature in BEST OF THE BEST OF WFS FINE ARTISTS !
Lesley Evered replied:
Thank you very much Jeannie for your good wishes and lovely comments.....very much appreciated
Kim Tran
Beautiful and adorable! L/f
Lesley Evered replied:
Thanks very much Kim.....they do look so cuddly I think. Thank you for the like and favourite...most appreciated