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. This difficult and controversial issue is dealt with in a logical and rational fashion.