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The John Batchelor Show

3/4: Koala: A Natural History and an Uncertain Future Hardcover – January 17, 2023 by Danielle Clode (Author)

The John Batchelor Show

John Batchelor

News, Society & Culture, Books, Arts

4.52.8K Ratings

🗓️ 29 July 2023

⏱️ 14 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Photo: South Australia 1929. No known restrictions on publication.
@Batchelorshow


3/4: Koala: A Natural History and an Uncertain Future Hardcover – January 17, 2023 by Danielle Clode (Author)

https://www.amazon.com/Koala-Natural-History-Uncertain-Future/dp/1324036834

Koalas regularly appeared in Australian biologist Danielle Clode’s backyard, but it was only when a bushfire threatened that she truly paid them attention. She soon realized how much she had to learn about these complex and mysterious animals.

In vivid, descriptive prose, Clode embarks on a delightful and surprising journey through evolutionary biology, natural history, and ecology to understand where these enigmatic animals came from and what their future may hold. She begins her search with the fossils of ancient giant koalas, delving into why the modern koala has become the lone survivor of a once-diverse family of uniquely Australian marsupials.

Koala investigates the remarkable physiology of these charismatic creatures. Born the size of tiny “jellybeans,” joeys face an uphill battle, from crawling into their mother’s pouch to being weaned onto a toxic diet of gum-tree leaves, the koalas’ single source of food.

Clode explores the complex relationship and unexpected connections between this endearing species and humans. She explains how koalas are simultaneously threatened with extinction in some areas due to disease, climate change, and increasing wildfires, while overpopulating forests in other parts of the country.

Deeply researched and filled with wonder, Koala is both a tender and inquisitive paean to a species unlike any other and a call to ensure its survival

Transcript

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0:00.0

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0:25.0

This is CBS Eye in the World, I'm John Bachelor.

0:28.0

I'm spending time with Daniel Claude, Professor Daniel Claude, whose new book is Koala.

0:32.0

A natural history in an uncertain future. Daniel's written several books, one of which is the tragic figure in Bambi, Fire.

0:40.0

And we're going to mention that because that's part of the challenge that Koala must now deal with.

0:45.0

Having survived 24 million years in a continent that was once part of Gondwala, South America and Antarctica, Australia.

0:54.0

It is now on its own in different parts of Australia, depending upon where the people are.

1:01.0

We're going to talk about what they must have, which is eucalyptus trees.

1:06.0

Daniel tells me there are eight to 900 species of eucalyptus utilists. Did I write that down correctly, Daniel?

1:13.0

Yes, that's one of those species. But yeah, eucalyptus is a very big group.

1:18.0

So it's the dominant form of a lot of Australian forests. The most widespread forest we have is eucalyptus.

1:24.0

But we tend to think of them all as one thing, just eucalyptus.

1:28.0

But in actual fact, they comprise eight to 900 different species and subspecies.

1:33.0

Koala's challenge is to eat eucalyptus leaves every day and make them nutritious. How do they do it?

1:40.0

In fact, it's so magical. I was writing down my notes here. They have parts of their internal system that we don't have.

1:48.0

We have an appendix. They have something called a CCM. How do you say that word?

1:53.0

Yeah, yes, CCM or CCM. Yep, that's great.

1:57.0

But it's really interesting that the issue with eucalyptus is that they're very fibrous.

2:03.0

They're very hard. The leaves are quite, they're not soft. They're quite hard and woody.

2:09.0

And so they're hard to digest. They're hard for them to break down.

...

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