Something that has always concerned me about Koalas
Koalas are nocturnal. Yet when they are in zoos/wildlife parks they seem to be at the publics beck and call. Patrons want a selfie with one, so are we, the public, encroaching too much on the Koalas?
@hartfire I suppose zoo born Koalas would know no different. Their sleep patterns would adapt to zoo hours. It is not as if the zoo keepers would wake the Koalas up to cater to the public.
@Gusman It's a bit like the problem of keeping dolphins in zoos. Cetaceans are such intelligent, emotional and social animals and I'm certain they'd be far happier swimming long distances in the wild - so long as human pollution, fishing nets and shipping noise doesn't wreck their environment. And yet zoo-born dolphins (with lives enriched by play and training with their keepers) act as ambassadors for their species to humankind. Visitors who get to see their intelligence are more likely to take actions to protect and save them in the wild.
Koalas are not very bright, but the cuteness factor when visitors hug them does seem to increase support for protecting their habitat and supporting wildlife rescue carers.
