New Documentaries:

Laura:  I’ve always thought of the kangaroo and the koala as adorable and well-loved animals. What I didn’t realize is that they are both marsupials (koalas are not bears) and that both these animals are dying off in record numbers. I chose to watch two films on these animals, thinking I would be treated to delightful scenes of animals playing and living a comfortable life in Australia. The two films, “Kangaroo: A Love-Hate Story” and “Koalas: The Bare Facts”, proved me wrong and horrified me. So depressing!  Experts believe that koalas could be extinct within 20 years, mainly because although they are protected, the environmental conditions that they depend on to survive are not. Wildfires are not helping. And the fate of the kangaroo is even more horrifying. The kangaroo population is being slaughtered in record numbers, primarily because it is considered a pest by farmers and ranchers. Plus, with all these dead kangaroos, it’s not surprising that they are being turned into a range of marketable products: fashion, pet food and gourmet cuisine. I love documentaries…you learn new things and gain new perspectives. Unfortunately, it’s not always what you wanted to know.

LEARNING CENTER

Barbara: I tried to find a fact that would make us feel a little better after this, so perhaps if it’s the eucalyptus trees in the environment that aren’t protected it’s not as dire as thought.

According to the Encyclopedia Brittanica eucalyptus leaves are full of toxins dangerous to baby koalas. Mama koalas feed their babies microbe-rich poop instead to help them develop immunity.

Luckily for my kids, I am not a koala.