Mysterious Death: What Happened to the Koalas?
16 dead koalas have now been found on a plantation in Australia.
investigations are ongoing.
Melbourne – In mid-June, 13 koala carcasses were discovered on a plantation in Australia.
Now three more dead koalas have been found on the site, the conservation authority in the state of Victoria announced on Monday (July 11).
The specimens showed different stages of decomposition.
The dead koalas lay between two weeks and twelve months in an unharvested area of the eucalyptus plantation.
Australia: Mysterious death of koalas Down Under
The death of the 16 koalas is a mystery to the conservation authority.
An autopsy has not yet provided a conclusive cause of death.
There was no evidence of broken bones, gunshots or other injuries.
"The absence of any trauma along with the pathological findings suggest that the deaths could be the result of environmental factors," the conservation agency's press release reads.
Further investigations into possible causes of death would be ongoing.
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Koalas just look cute with their round, fluffy ears, black nose and small eyes (symbol photo).
© Fotofeeling/imago
Koalas are funny marsupials.
The koala ("Phascolarctos cinereus") eats almost exclusively
eucalyptus leaves.
Despite their adorable appearance, the animals are not threatened with extinction.
According to the WWF, koalas were hunted ruthlessly for their fur as late as the 1920s.
Thousands of animals died or were injured in the devastating bushfires (2019/2020).
According to estimates by the environmental organization WWF, more than 60,000 of the koalas that are only native Down Under were killed, injured, driven away or traumatized.
Images of animals with singed fur and burned paws went around the world.
The population of marsupials in Australia has declined sharply.
Bushfires rage around Australia's capital, Canberra
Bushfires rage around Australia's capital, Canberra
Koalas in Australia are under protection: Killing protected wild animals faces six months in prison
Australian authorities warn: "The maximum penalty for killing protected wildlife is A$9,246 fine and/or six months in prison
.
"
Director Ash Bunce emphasizes, "We are investigating in all directions as part of this investigation to determine what happened to these koalas."
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List of rubrics: © Fotofeeling/imago
