| Reviews
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Editor : Glyn Mather |
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This is one of the Australian Natural History series published by UNSW Press. The aim of this series is to "make accessible accurate scientific information, complemented by high quality illustrations, on a wide variety of Australian animals". The authors of The Koala believe that, "the ideal natural history should be a plainly written narrative that integrates pertinent historical information about a species with the most up-to-date scientific facts of its biology". The Koala fulfils these aims admirably and represents an excellent resource for people looking for a readable, but not oversimplified, account of the history, biology and management of koalas.
The book’s first two chapters include an entertaining examination of the peculiar charisma of the species, as well as an interesting historical overview covering prehistory, Aboriginal mythology and utilisation, and the enormous impact of European settlement. The next chapter deals with distribution and abundance and the impact of factors such as drought and land clearing are discussed. The danger in generalising the conservation status of the koala, an animal found over a very wide range of habitats, is emphasised.
Later chapters cover more specific aspects of koala biology and management. Diet and digestion and how these needs translate into habitat requirements is covered in some detail. The next chapter opens with a fairly convincing argument as to why having a sadly small brain can be advantageous and subsequently details aspects of koala behaviour, breeding and life cycle.
The chapter on disease and predation understandably concentrates on chlamydial disease and includes details of the recent taxonomic changes which have complicated the picture of this disease - important not only for individuals, but also because of its detrimental effect on fertility and hence population growth. A discussion of the latter effect is expanded in the subsequent chapter and the issue of local over-abundance is raised.
The final chapter discusses management issues, including some of the threats to populations at risk, and talks about the problems of local over-abundance at some length - including case studies of current (Kangaroo Island) and probable future (the Strathbogies Ranges) situations. This difficult and controversial issue is dealt with in a logical and rational fashion. Unfortunately, we are not left feeling that politicians dealing with these problems in the future will do the same, given their repeated failure to do so in the past.
Susan
Hemsley
Lecturer in Veterinary Anatomy
University of Sydney
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The story Ellen the Echidna is about an echidna who has to leave her mother and find food. First, she found some delicious termites in a termite mound. They had creamy bodies and black heads. Next, she got caught on a log but managed to get out. She became hungry again and ate some grubs from under a log, then settled down for a nap. While she was there she saw a brown snake but when it saw Ellen, it went back to sleep.
One very hot, dry day she went for a nice swim. Soon it was dark and in the morning lightning came. It shook the ground. A strange smell and distant sound woke Ellen – it was afire! She was frightened and dug into the soil so she was completely covered. The soil was hot for a while but was fine after that. On her way down to the creek for a drink, a park ranger found her and picked her up to see if she was injured or burned. She weighed her and released her. After that adventure she grew up, mated with a male echidna, and raised a baby named Eric.
This book teaches children a lot about the lifestyle of echidnas: what they eat, how they escape from fire, find a mate and look after babies. It has lots of nice pictures by the writer, and has a very good index and glossary for school projects in the back of the book.
Sarah
Lord
age 10
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Ellen
the Echidna is available from the NPA Office for $5, including postage. |
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National
Parks Association - Home Page |
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