Koalas are the face of Australian tourism. What now after the fires?
For decades, koalas have featured in Australian tourism advertisements. But when the iconic native animals are vulnerable to climate change and have been severely affected by the bushfires, what will happen next? Kevin Markwell explores in this crossposting from The Conversation.
In 1936, The Evening News in Rockhampton wrote:
The time has arrived when Australians must decide whether or not they will accept responsibility for the perpetuation of the koala […]
It seems extraordinary that this animal which is so greatly admired, not only by overseas visitors, but by Australians, is being allowed to suffer extinction.
Is this whAt passes for journalism? Is there an expression that those that can’t: teach?
Koalas are STILL burning out there and you think it’s appropriate to write an article about whether or not we will still be able to use them in advertising for the almighty buck?! Gross.
This is in very poor taste. Why not speak less about the value of the koala to the A$ and more about their value to our ecosystem? There’s more to Australia and its native inhabitants than tourism and how they can make money.
Disgusted that this is even an article.
Did the haters in this comment thread actually read the article? It’s sympathetic to the catastrophe inflicted on the koalas. And expressing that devastation in financial terms doesn’t diminish it. On the contrary.