October 20, 2023 • 30 mins
Amazing Wildlife is spotlighting the Australian Forest Conservation Hub by highlighting a favorite tree-dwelling marsupial: the koala! Rick and Marco are joined by Jen Tobey, a researcher at San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, who explains why marsupials are raised in a pouch—and the truth about why koalas sleep so much. The San Diego Zoo has the largest breeding colony of koalas outside of Australia, and Jen shares details about two field researchers in Queensland and the Blue Mountains region of New South Wales, working with the Alliance in koala conservation. The hosts and Jen also discuss the challenges and successes the Alliance is having in reintroducing koalas to lands they once inhabited.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
Hi, I'm Rick Schwartz linel Zsworld. I'm Marco went.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Welcome to Amazing Wildlife, where we explore unique stories of
wildlife from around the world and uncovered fascinating animal facts.
This podcast is a production of iHeartRadio's Ruby Studios and
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance in international nonprofit conservation organization
which oversees of San Diego Zoo and Safari Park.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Hey, Rick, so, I know early on in season one
of Amazing Wildlife there was an episode about Koalas and
there was even an interview with one of our conservation
partners who helped with Koalas impacted by the fires in
twenty twenty.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
Yep, that's correct.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
I believe that was episode three of season one. The
interview you're talking about was with doctor Kelly Lee. She
does amazing work, oh.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
No doubt, and as good as this episode is going
to be, I want to encourage any one of our
listeners out there to go check out that episode from
season one.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
And speaking of this episode, we are focusing in on
the Australian Force Contentation Hub and more specifically, we're looking
at one of my favorite tree dwelling Marsupials the koala.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
Ooh, sorry, tree kangaroos looks like koalas are at the
top of the tree for real.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
Oh come on, take it easy now, I said, one
of my favorite tree dwelling marsupials, not the only favorite.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
Don't make the tree gangoos mad?
Speaker 1 (01:18):
Yeah right, nice say? I mean I don't want see
to get any angry kangaroo male.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
I know, right, Okay, okay, moving on. One thing I
do want to establish for everyone before we get too
far into this episode is the term koala bear, though
used often, is incorrect, and it's incorrect because koalas are
not bears, but in.
Speaker 4 (01:36):
Fact marsupials exactly.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
And although the koala has a teddy bear like face,
which is probably why people started calling them koala bears,
actually if you look really closely, you can see their
features are not at all like those in the bear family.
And like you said, koalas are marsupials and bears are
definitely not.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Which, then, of course, does prompt me to want to
make sure all of our amazing wildlife listeners know to
kualify as a marsupial doesn't mean you have a pouch.
It means you were raised.
Speaker 4 (02:04):
In a pouch qualify.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Huh, I come on, I feel like it was appropriate
for that moment, all right, Okay, Anyway, the reason marsupials
are raised in a pouch is because they are very
underdeveloped when born, so they crawl from the birth canal
into the pouch latch on there until they grow enough
to start venturing out of the pouch on their own.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
Nicely, said my friend, and speaking of koualified, nice, thank you,
thank you. I think it's a good time for us
head on over to our researcher to get an update
on koala conservation, right, don't let's do it.
Speaker 5 (02:37):
I am Jen Toby. I am a researcher here at
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. I research koalas.
Speaker 4 (02:47):
That's great. I mean, everyone loves koalas.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
I hear about it all the time, and it's actually
pretty good for our guests to know, because every time
I'm in the Safari park, a guest comes up to
me like Marco, where are the koala is?
Speaker 4 (02:56):
And I gotta remind them they're not here, They're at
the San Diego Zoo. Can you speak a little bit about.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
Some of these myths misconceptions about this really unique Marswoopia
being found in Australia.
Speaker 5 (03:06):
Actually, historically they used to be out here at the
San Diego Zoo Safari Park too. So those of you
who might be as old as me might remember walking
through the areas of the village where we have different
animals now.
Speaker 6 (03:24):
But we actually used to have koalas there too.
Speaker 5 (03:26):
So that might be why you're getting questions about it,
oh is because historically we did have them out here.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
It's good to know these things, and especially for our guests,
if they have a really specific animal they want to see,
you can always check it on our website too. So
now we know Koala's at the San Diego Zoo, correct,
and there is a long history with the zoo and
with Koala's right.
Speaker 4 (03:46):
Can you speak a little bit about that that unique relationship.
Speaker 5 (03:49):
Absolutely, because that continues today with things. You know, we
say that we have the largest breeding colony of koalas
outside of Australia, and that actually still is true.
Speaker 6 (03:59):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 5 (04:00):
In fact, I was just in Columbus, Ohio and saw
three of the koalas that are technically considered part of
that colony that are housed there, one of which is
an offspring.
Speaker 6 (04:11):
So a Joey.
Speaker 5 (04:12):
That's I think they said she's about a year old
or so. So what our koalas are part of is
a bigger kind of consortium, including animals that are over
in Europe as well that are all part of this
breeding colony. And we do that so that we can
keep the genetics going on that lineage. And historically we
(04:35):
started with koalas back in the nineteen twenties, believe it
or not. They were a gift from the children of
Sydney to the children of San Diego. From there more
represented of what we have now, more like in the
nineteen eighties, which for those of us that is not
(04:56):
twenty years ago. So back in the nineteen eighties, the
colony of koalas that you see now when you go
to the San Diego Zoo they come from that lineage.
So that was where we actively started with our colony
and creating that large colony outside of Australia.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Which is really important. Like you mentioned, it's for the
genetic purposes, and also I think the side effect that
I've seen when I've gone to other zoos is the
educational component that I think being here in San Diego,
we sometimes take for granted some of the unique species
we get to share.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
Our life with.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
But you go to other zoos where getting a koala
is you know, it makes the news and it's an
important part of really educating people what's going on in Australia,
educating people about koalas. And on that note, I want
to go back to Marco's original question that we kind
of got sidetracked from, which is one of our favorite
things to do in the podcast is talk to people
who know these species really well to ask about what
(05:55):
are some of the myths or misunderstandings that the general
public might have the speed she's you know so well,
so for koalas, what might that be jen.
Speaker 5 (06:03):
If you've had the pleasure of seeing koalas anywhere, it
was interesting At Columbus they showed us where all of
this was so. Koalas predominantly eat Eucalyptus browse. They're picky.
Even though they just eucalyptus. You would think, oh, they'd
eat all these varieties. They don't, so we have to
harvest it and places that can't grow it, like in
(06:25):
San Diego, we have a huge farm that we can
farm our brows from, which is fantastic.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
And brows being just the fresh cutting right exactly.
Speaker 5 (06:36):
So basically, the leaves that we feed we still leave
attached to a branch of a eucalyptus tree. So in
other places you don't necessarily have access to it because
they get snow or otherwise and maybe can't grow what
is needed for those animals. So with that, a lot
(06:57):
of what I tend to hear is, oh, koalas sleep
a lot, which ps they sleep eighteen to twenty hours
a day.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
That's a lot. That's a lot.
Speaker 5 (07:07):
Yeah, yes, I always ask teenagers, so would you like
to be a koala? Yes? Anyway, So what I hear
a lot is that the koala is sleep that much
because they're drugged somehow with things. That is not the case,
but it is tied into their food. Anyone who's ever
looked at any kind of eucalyptus and they come in
(07:29):
many varieties, but those leaves are very tough and they're
very thick. That is the predominant way that koalas get
their water, believe it or not, from those thick, tough leaves.
So if that's what you're eating, your sleep and a
whole bunch to digest it, because that's.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
Very tough, tough fibers, so you think about that being
their only source, and it's not high in calories, so
they're not gaining a lot of energy front correct, having
to work on digesting that right.
Speaker 5 (07:57):
And you can even liken it to things like carnivores
and all where they go out and they gorge themselves
and then what do they do sleep?
Speaker 4 (08:07):
Yeah, I think it's a line right, sleeping.
Speaker 6 (08:10):
Exactly. So it's the same kind of idea. It's just
with leaves.
Speaker 5 (08:14):
So it's not necessarily what's in the leaves that is
causing them to sleep, but the fact that they have
to digest those leaves so they're not high off of
the leaves.
Speaker 6 (08:24):
It's just a matter of correct correct.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
Yeah, I've heard that before. People have asked me that
before when giving tours the zoo. You know, oh, is
it true that they get a high off of the
Eucalyptus aga toxic for a lot of other species. But
those toxins aren't making them high. It's just the heavy, tough,
dense fiber.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (08:41):
To erect correct do they actually have to get very
technical with it. A very large secum, which is the
part of the digestive track for the size animal they are,
so for that mass to move through and for them
to be able to digest it, yeah, it.
Speaker 6 (08:56):
Takes some time, thanks, and they might as well sleep.
Speaker 4 (08:59):
Right as well.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
Right there hundreds of species if you calyp this, which
makes it really proud to be a San Diego and
cruising around the Safari Park in San Diega is and
seeing a lot of these plants were growing on property,
which is really great.
Speaker 4 (09:10):
It's a village, wouldn't you say, guys.
Speaker 1 (09:12):
I mean it's not just right the specialist taking care
of the koalas on habitat at the zoo. But I
love when I'm cruising around and I see all our
horticulture seem way up on the treetops collecting all that
great brows for those koalas.
Speaker 4 (09:23):
I mean they need what fresh brows?
Speaker 1 (09:25):
They need more than one species every single day, right.
Speaker 5 (09:29):
Yeah, So they spend a lot of time doing that,
and then we try not to show them what gets
pulled out from those habitats at the end of the day,
because remember I said, koalas are picky about what they eat.
So yeah, it's one of the things that I show,
especially to students and all. Okay, this is what it
(09:50):
looks like going in fresh this is what it looks
like coming out.
Speaker 6 (09:54):
So can you tell which is which?
Speaker 3 (09:56):
Sometimes you can't, you can't, sometimes.
Speaker 6 (09:57):
You can't go usually, but yes, yeah, they're.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
To nibble on the freshest sprouse, right and usually on
the ends only, right, exactly.
Speaker 4 (10:05):
It's a unique adaptation to can you actually speak a
little bit? What is so unique?
Speaker 1 (10:09):
But a koal in that Australian ecosys. This is one
of our conservation hubs as well in Australia. Right, So
when I think of koala, I'm thinking of one up
in a tree.
Speaker 4 (10:17):
So what is that? What's the behavior around that?
Speaker 5 (10:20):
Yeah, actually that's a really good question because then you go, okay.
Speaker 6 (10:23):
They sleep all the time.
Speaker 5 (10:25):
But as I say to people, a lot, animals just
have to behave to the extent that they can survive, right,
And koalas don't have a bunch of predators, and.
Speaker 6 (10:37):
Who knows, maybe that's because they have changed over the years.
Speaker 5 (10:42):
You know, their closest living relatives are actually ground dwelling
animals and that would be the wombat. Who I know
some people that's their favorite animal, right. Yeah, I'm looking
at my husband about it.
Speaker 4 (10:57):
And I didn't know that honestly, So that's super unique.
Speaker 5 (11:01):
Yeah, so it's interesting because one is purely on the ground.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
You don't see one of the ground sometimes.
Speaker 5 (11:07):
Yeah, yeah, growing absolutely so. And in fact, if you
think it's bad when we have our ground squirrels around
here in southern California and the holes they make, now
imagine a wombat. And for those of you who don't
know what a cute wombat looks like, they're a bit
bigger than our ground squirrels, and they actually dig out dens.
(11:28):
So with the wombats, and they are mercupials, so they
have a pouch. So their pouch is what we call
rear facing. So in other words, if you look at
a kangaroo or a wallabye or similar that when they're upright,
their pouch is upright, so you're seeing the baby's head
come out the top. Whereas with a wombat, Now if
(11:49):
you think they have to dig into the ground, so
they're they're they're throwing dirt around everywhere. If their pouch
we're facing that same way, they'd be thrown dirt in.
Speaker 6 (12:00):
We wouldn't be seeing wombats, that was the case.
Speaker 5 (12:02):
Right, So their pouch faces the opposite direction, ironically than
koalas who are up in trees have the exact same thing.
So their pouches do not face upwards like a kangaroo.
They actually are rear facing, similar to what you get
in a wombat.
Speaker 3 (12:22):
So how did the joey's not fall out of it?
Speaker 2 (12:27):
Something that's my phone would fall out.
Speaker 4 (12:32):
I'm always losing chain, So there's something to that.
Speaker 5 (12:35):
Right, just saying so this is where mother nature has
always steps in with things. So when you look at
the biology and how the physiology of those pouches work,
they're not open.
Speaker 6 (12:49):
They're not like our pockets in our pants.
Speaker 4 (12:53):
I'm thinking, like we need a poo.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
You know.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
The kangaroo, you know, all this stuff is in that
bag or in that pouchs.
Speaker 4 (12:58):
Not like that, not like right.
Speaker 5 (12:59):
Well, when you think of it in the same way
as like a kangaroo, a mother kangaroo, when that joey
is really small, isn't like, oh, I can't bounce around,
I can't move anywhere because bouncing any of us who
have hit a bump in the road or otherwise know
what flies out of you know, your bags in the
(13:19):
car otherwise, right exactly, So different from that you actually
have parts of the pouches that will tighten up so
that anything in there isn't going to come flying out. Now,
it's not a perfect seal. It's not like you're sealing
it up. Hence the wombat who still will need the
rear facing because it's not like velcrow. So even though
(13:47):
kolas are up in trees, there's two things that are
working for them with that. So when Joey is born,
it's like they're all head and mouth and like limb.
The great part is when they're rear facing, it's pretty
easy for that Joey to climb then into that pouch
from when they're born, right versus a kangaroo has to
(14:11):
go up and around and then down into the pouch.
So with any of the marsupials, the other thing that
happens is that that baby is then going to find
mom's nipple and attached to it, and believe it or not,
that attachment is pretty good. The other thing is that
then the pouch with that attachment, the mom knows like,
oh okay, I have a baby, and so that pouch
(14:34):
will tighten up and so that it's also keeping it
in there.
Speaker 4 (14:38):
So yeah, that's interesting and their native range.
Speaker 1 (14:41):
Where would say, for Australia, where would that be specifically
for koalas.
Speaker 5 (14:44):
So koalas have a really large home range. Yeah, so
I believe they're across most of their historic home range,
believe it or not. So they go all the way
from almost the northern tip, which is up in Queensland area,
which for those of us who live in North America
(15:06):
and all, that's the hotter part because it's closer to
the equator. But they stretch all the way down into
the southern realm as well.
Speaker 6 (15:15):
So yeah, so there are.
Speaker 4 (15:16):
Across all sorts of terrains right.
Speaker 6 (15:18):
Pretty much the eastern seaboard. Yeah, as.
Speaker 3 (15:23):
Correct.
Speaker 5 (15:24):
Correct if you've ever been to Australia, the center of
Australia is desert, so you're not going to find koalas
out in that area. But that's also part of the
reason they don't have as many predators is because we're
they're at you don't have some of those more predatory
type animals that you might find on the cusp of
those desert area.
Speaker 1 (15:45):
I don't really envision like a wedge tailed eagle like
cruising around that forest are trying to pick off.
Speaker 5 (15:50):
Right, and koalas get big enough, so across that range
they actually differ in size, so they get bigger as
you go southern, which colder colder.
Speaker 1 (16:03):
That made me think of something actually, because everyone thinks
of koala is cute and cuddly.
Speaker 4 (16:07):
You know, you stun them.
Speaker 1 (16:08):
But the way you're describing him now, I mean they
can defend themselves, right, They can move quick if they
have to, right, So you.
Speaker 5 (16:13):
Have to think even though they're tree dwelling and I
come from the primate world with things too, where you
have primates that will jump from tree to tree, Koalas
don't do that unless there is a reason, i e.
They're scared or something else is going on. So normally
koalas will climb down out of trees and then run
across the landscape to wherever it is that they want
(16:36):
to go up into another space.
Speaker 4 (16:39):
Oh cool.
Speaker 5 (16:40):
So because they climb up and down, they have really
big claws. So because they have to show me up
eucalyptus trees and you can absolutely see their claw marks
on the trees when you go out. For the most part,
because of the way the bark is on most of
the eucalyptus trees, they go up and down In fact,
(17:01):
it's a way in Australia that we can track down
where koalas have been.
Speaker 6 (17:05):
So yes, they've got nice claws.
Speaker 5 (17:07):
The other thing, remember we talked about the tough eucalyptus
le yes, So how do you get those? Well, you
got to have teeth that actually can take those off
of the branches.
Speaker 3 (17:20):
And a powerful jaw to grind it up too.
Speaker 5 (17:22):
Correct, Right, So I tell people a lot of times,
especially here in North America, if you've ever seen rabbit
teeth or like rodent anienship, it's similar to that in
the front because they're biting off of things and then
they have to grind it up in their back teeth.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
So as well equipped as a quala is to defend
itself if it has to, we also know they do
face a lot of challenges that clawing or biting isn't
going to help.
Speaker 3 (17:49):
With environmental issues.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
And that's part of your work, that is researching population sustainability,
working with our partners we have in Australia too, to
maintain and look at populations for safety issues. Not too
long ago, there's the big fires and Blue Mountains and
our partners were part of helping those walls out as well.
I'd love to start diving into some of the conservation
side of things and the work you do to help
(18:11):
better understand them and what they need.
Speaker 6 (18:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (18:14):
Absolutely, So we work with two field researchers right now.
One is more in that northern area in Queensland and
then the other one is in the Blue Mountains area,
which is about two and a half hours west.
Speaker 6 (18:29):
I have to get my east west right west of Sydney.
Speaker 5 (18:33):
And the reason I say that is because when you
have that big of a home range for a species,
there are very different conservation issues you're dealing with. So
up in the Queensland area, because it's the warmer climate,
it's nice, they're nice beaches. Those of you who might
want to go out to the Great Barrier Reef. This
(18:54):
is a very tourist type area, so there's a lot
of I don't want to say, but a lot of
overlap between where humans want to be and where koalas
want to be. And this has been going on for
a very long time and doctor Bill Ellis, who works there,
who I work with, has been doing a lot of
(19:16):
work looking at.
Speaker 6 (19:17):
Those specific things.
Speaker 5 (19:18):
So to take a quick example of that area, he
currently is looking at releasing koalas in an area that
historically you would have found koalas, but because there are
ranchers in the area that a lot of their habitat
and their interconnective part, I know, we talk about that
with a lot of different animals is having some kind
(19:39):
of connection in the field where they can get from
place to place. So with the work that he does
in that area, what we're specifically looking at is can
you release animals back into those areas and have them
successfully repatriate it. What's interr is doctor Kelly Lee, who's
(20:03):
down in New South Wales looking in the Blue Mountains
is actually looking at that on a natural scale. So
the Blue Mountains prior to the big fires that came through,
and we can touch on that a little bit too,
that area people came through and put orchards in. So
over the past probably twenty five years or so, those
(20:25):
orchards for the most part, the small farms and all
have gone away. And the eucalyptus and those of us
who know eucalyptus, it grows like a weed.
Speaker 2 (20:34):
Right.
Speaker 5 (20:35):
So this is a World Heritage site people do live
in and amongst it. It's also National Park, State Park
and all, so it gets utilized for multiple purposes. But
these areas where you're having this natural repatriation of eucalyptus,
well what comes right behind it. So she's starting to
(20:56):
see areas where koalas are coming back in.
Speaker 3 (21:00):
Oh, that's great.
Speaker 5 (21:00):
The Blue Mountains used to be sort of like the
epicenter type area of koalas. Historically, the koalas in that
area were part of where people went out to hunt
them when you start hearing about the fur trade that
was out of that area, So there were lots of
them back in the day. But now to start seeing
(21:23):
that natural repatriation of them coming back in is really
actually fascinating. So when you see that, and then having
the work done up in Queensland as well, where we're
looking at, okay, can we do this and put these
animals back in and have them be successful. The great
news is that it's working. Awesome, so great, and koalas
(21:48):
once again they're picky eaters. That is going to be
the main thing that you know, can this landscape actually
sustain it? The really great part for both the work
that we do in those two areas is that you
really have a lot of buy in these days from
the people who live in those areas, and that's what
(22:08):
you need. In the case of where doctor Ellis's with things,
they had a rancher who this is what he wanted
to do. And it's not that he's turning the land
back into just koala habitat. He actually is continuing to ranch.
And what's fascinating is that when you start having these
(22:29):
kind of collaborations, you can start see, especially on the
conservation side, does this work. Can we do this without saying, oh,
you just have to turn the land back right exactly?
And I know from previous work, not with koalas, that
a lot of times when you have trees growing in
areas and pasture land, that the pasture land is more productive,
(22:55):
it's more viable. It's fantastic to see this sort of
symbiosis between two sea guys.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
I want to jump back real quick too, with all
this work you just touched on and the idea of
reintroducing species or them coming in on their own. There's
a lot of knowledge though that. For example, I know
firsthand doctor Bill Ellis's work on Saint bees and all
the studies that have been done on their vocalizations, their communications,
everything within that whole concept of knowing and studying what
(23:25):
do they need to exist and how do they exist
in their space? Now we can take that information and
apply it to these ideas of Okay, let's bring koualis
into what was.
Speaker 3 (23:33):
You know, a ranch only. But this rancher wants to
work with us.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
I'm assuming doctor Ellis can leverage what he knows is
actually needed to create that solid footprint to reintroduces.
Speaker 5 (23:43):
It's really good and this really highlights how San Diego
Zoo Wildlife Alliance and how our hubs can work with things. So,
like I said, we've been doing stuff with koalas on
ground since the nineteen eighties. The other thing we've been
doing since that time is going over to Australia and
assisting in these conservation projects. Both doctor Ellis and doctor
(24:05):
Lee contacted me because of work that I was doing.
The research I was doing here with our koalas, So
there's this great connectedness with staff, in particular some of
the things you were talking about in vocalizations. I was
recording vocalizations here of our koalas trying to figure out
(24:27):
from our standpoint, Okay, we're looking at things like mate
choice and how do we keep our colony robust and
looking at the genetics. So we're coming at it from
sort of our zoo lens. But then what's happening is
you have field conservationists and researchers who are like, hey,
you have this information. So we started looking at things
(24:51):
and so something that I was looking at in terms
of okay, so how are they communicating here? How can
that help us with things on grounds that now, when
you're trying to record the movement patterns of koalas, that
you might go, oh, maybe I should be looking at
vocalizations as well. So there's a lot of that kind
(25:15):
of overlap that ends up happening. Doctor Lee contacted me
about some cent work. So the male koalas have what
we call external or chest scent gland, and for us
here we were curious to be like, okay, you know
it appears to quote turn on and produce things. What
is it producing? What does that look like? But in
(25:37):
comparison to field researchers, for the most part, when I
show up every day to collect some of the type
of information and data, I know where our koalas are, right,
I can tell you firsthand it can take days sometimes
if not ours to find koalas out in the field,
(25:59):
I think, so we can help them with speeding up
some of these processes, and then they take that information
and can really go with it. And in the case
of some of these types of things that we're looking at,
like the release of koalas into areas, that is all
made possible by some of the previous work that Bill
was doing, which then also tied into our animals here
(26:23):
at the San Diego Zoo.
Speaker 2 (26:24):
Yeah, so the San Diego Zoo koalas. We're basically creating
a baseline of information, which is if anybody has know
when we're talking about science, having that baseline, having that
basically Okay, this is our level, and then we can
go out and explore from there is so very important.
What a foundation you helped create with your research for
Bill doctor ellis to apply then in what he's doing.
(26:45):
And now we can look back and see how all
of that's time together to these quals being reintroduced to
old habitat that's been ranches for years.
Speaker 3 (26:54):
And then, like you said, it's that tie in.
Speaker 2 (26:56):
With the local community, those that are living there in
these spaces to really allow all that data and information
that you've been a part of for so long to
come to fruition now to have koalas going back out there,
that's so cool.
Speaker 5 (27:09):
Right, It's very cool because there's a lot of times
where people come and they see, say, are different animals
and you know, how does that tie in with stuff?
And it's not just koalas. You know, there's a lot
of different species that we work with here and why
we do the research, and it's always great from our
end to see it come full circle that it really
(27:32):
enhances the work that's being done out in the field
as well.
Speaker 2 (27:36):
It really is awesome to hear how the collaborative work
of the zoo and our partners, you know, I mean
we're the Wildlife Alliance.
Speaker 3 (27:43):
Right, the Wildlife Alliance, and it's just.
Speaker 2 (27:46):
Great to hear the stories of how it's all coming together,
not just the current work, but the history as well.
I can't thank you enough Jen for your time today.
I really appreciate you being on amazing wildlife and sharing
all your passionate and knowledge with everybody.
Speaker 6 (27:57):
You're welcome.
Speaker 5 (27:58):
Thank you for inviting me to talk about the cute
fuzzy koalas that we.
Speaker 3 (28:02):
Have the tree dwelling.
Speaker 7 (28:05):
I love to eave them more Now, such a great
conversation about koalas with Jen, and I really appreciate how
Jen explained the challenges and success they're having with reintroducing
koalas back into those lands that they once inhabited.
Speaker 4 (28:22):
I mean, I wonder what it's like for those people.
Speaker 1 (28:24):
Right, you wake up one morning and then all of
a sudden, you hear a koala sound like like a
koala bellow.
Speaker 2 (28:30):
Just for our listeners that that was Marco trying to
do a k Hopefully our sound engineer can give us
a proper bellow. But you're right, it is a very
unique and odd sound if they have not been in
that area for a while.
Speaker 3 (28:41):
I can only imagine what the people in.
Speaker 2 (28:42):
That area must think when they hear that for the
first time. And with that said, the fact that it's
the rangers asking to have the koalas come back to
the land that they ranch is so great. It gives
me hope for other species that have been displaced. Maybe
we'll start seeing others work with conservationists to bring species
back to areas that they were once found in before
the land was developed for human.
Speaker 4 (29:02):
Use, Right, I mean, it's awesome.
Speaker 1 (29:04):
I love how much gens work and research of the
koalas at the San Diego Zoo ended up being so
important and helpful to those doing koala conservation back in Australia.
Speaker 2 (29:13):
Another great example of the impact of the San Diego
Zoo wildlife flans and how working together allows us all
to do such great things.
Speaker 4 (29:20):
He really is a great example.
Speaker 1 (29:21):
Right, just makes my hot smile and we are always
welcoming other allies for wildlife. Anyone can join us and
support our conservation efforts. I encourage anyone interested in joining
us to go to our website SDZWA dot org to
learn more about our conservation hubs and how to get involved.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
You know, speaking of conservation hub, there is one hub
we have yet to dive into this season.
Speaker 4 (29:46):
Why do I feel like I'm walking into something right now?
Speaker 2 (29:48):
You know me so well, Marco and yes, I think
it's time for us to dive into the ocean's hub.
Speaker 3 (29:56):
What was that?
Speaker 2 (29:57):
Be sure to subscribe and tune into our next episode
to Marco and I find out more about the bears
that are considered marine mammals.
Speaker 3 (30:04):
The polar bear. Now, Marco went and I'm Rick Schwartz.
Thanks for listening.
Speaker 2 (30:13):
For more information about the San Diego Zoo and San
Diego Zoo Safari Park.
Speaker 3 (30:17):
Go to SDZWA dot org.
Speaker 2 (30:20):
Amazing Wildlife is a production of iHeartRadio's Ruby Studios. Our
supervising producer is Nikkiah Swinton and our sound designer and
editor is Sierra Spreen. For more shows from iHeartRadio, check
out the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen
to your favorite shows.
Hi, I'm Rick Schwartz linel Zsworld. I'm Marco went.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Welcome to Amazing Wildlife, where we explore unique stories of
wildlife from around the world and uncovered fascinating animal facts.
This podcast is a production of iHeartRadio's Ruby Studios and
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance in international nonprofit conservation organization
which oversees of San Diego Zoo and Safari Park.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Hey, Rick, so, I know early on in season one
of Amazing Wildlife there was an episode about Koalas and
there was even an interview with one of our conservation
partners who helped with Koalas impacted by the fires in
twenty twenty.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
Yep, that's correct.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
I believe that was episode three of season one. The
interview you're talking about was with doctor Kelly Lee. She
does amazing work, oh.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
No doubt, and as good as this episode is going
to be, I want to encourage any one of our
listeners out there to go check out that episode from
season one.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
And speaking of this episode, we are focusing in on
the Australian Force Contentation Hub and more specifically, we're looking
at one of my favorite tree dwelling Marsupials the koala.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
Ooh, sorry, tree kangaroos looks like koalas are at the
top of the tree for real.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
Oh come on, take it easy now, I said, one
of my favorite tree dwelling marsupials, not the only favorite.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
Don't make the tree gangoos mad?
Speaker 1 (01:18):
Yeah right, nice say? I mean I don't want see
to get any angry kangaroo male.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
I know, right, Okay, okay, moving on. One thing I
do want to establish for everyone before we get too
far into this episode is the term koala bear, though
used often, is incorrect, and it's incorrect because koalas are
not bears, but in.
Speaker 4 (01:36):
Fact marsupials exactly.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
And although the koala has a teddy bear like face,
which is probably why people started calling them koala bears,
actually if you look really closely, you can see their
features are not at all like those in the bear family.
And like you said, koalas are marsupials and bears are
definitely not.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Which, then, of course, does prompt me to want to
make sure all of our amazing wildlife listeners know to
kualify as a marsupial doesn't mean you have a pouch.
It means you were raised.
Speaker 4 (02:04):
In a pouch qualify.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Huh, I come on, I feel like it was appropriate
for that moment, all right, Okay, Anyway, the reason marsupials
are raised in a pouch is because they are very
underdeveloped when born, so they crawl from the birth canal
into the pouch latch on there until they grow enough
to start venturing out of the pouch on their own.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
Nicely, said my friend, and speaking of koualified, nice, thank you,
thank you. I think it's a good time for us
head on over to our researcher to get an update
on koala conservation, right, don't let's do it.
Speaker 5 (02:37):
I am Jen Toby. I am a researcher here at
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. I research koalas.
Speaker 4 (02:47):
That's great. I mean, everyone loves koalas.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
I hear about it all the time, and it's actually
pretty good for our guests to know, because every time
I'm in the Safari park, a guest comes up to
me like Marco, where are the koala is?
Speaker 4 (02:56):
And I gotta remind them they're not here, They're at
the San Diego Zoo. Can you speak a little bit about.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
Some of these myths misconceptions about this really unique Marswoopia
being found in Australia.
Speaker 5 (03:06):
Actually, historically they used to be out here at the
San Diego Zoo Safari Park too. So those of you
who might be as old as me might remember walking
through the areas of the village where we have different
animals now.
Speaker 6 (03:24):
But we actually used to have koalas there too.
Speaker 5 (03:26):
So that might be why you're getting questions about it,
oh is because historically we did have them out here.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
It's good to know these things, and especially for our guests,
if they have a really specific animal they want to see,
you can always check it on our website too. So
now we know Koala's at the San Diego Zoo, correct,
and there is a long history with the zoo and
with Koala's right.
Speaker 4 (03:46):
Can you speak a little bit about that that unique relationship.
Speaker 5 (03:49):
Absolutely, because that continues today with things. You know, we
say that we have the largest breeding colony of koalas
outside of Australia, and that actually still is true.
Speaker 6 (03:59):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 5 (04:00):
In fact, I was just in Columbus, Ohio and saw
three of the koalas that are technically considered part of
that colony that are housed there, one of which is
an offspring.
Speaker 6 (04:11):
So a Joey.
Speaker 5 (04:12):
That's I think they said she's about a year old
or so. So what our koalas are part of is
a bigger kind of consortium, including animals that are over
in Europe as well that are all part of this
breeding colony. And we do that so that we can
keep the genetics going on that lineage. And historically we
(04:35):
started with koalas back in the nineteen twenties, believe it
or not. They were a gift from the children of
Sydney to the children of San Diego. From there more
represented of what we have now, more like in the
nineteen eighties, which for those of us that is not
(04:56):
twenty years ago. So back in the nineteen eighties, the
colony of koalas that you see now when you go
to the San Diego Zoo they come from that lineage.
So that was where we actively started with our colony
and creating that large colony outside of Australia.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Which is really important. Like you mentioned, it's for the
genetic purposes, and also I think the side effect that
I've seen when I've gone to other zoos is the
educational component that I think being here in San Diego,
we sometimes take for granted some of the unique species
we get to share.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
Our life with.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
But you go to other zoos where getting a koala
is you know, it makes the news and it's an
important part of really educating people what's going on in Australia,
educating people about koalas. And on that note, I want
to go back to Marco's original question that we kind
of got sidetracked from, which is one of our favorite
things to do in the podcast is talk to people
who know these species really well to ask about what
(05:55):
are some of the myths or misunderstandings that the general
public might have the speed she's you know so well,
so for koalas, what might that be jen.
Speaker 5 (06:03):
If you've had the pleasure of seeing koalas anywhere, it
was interesting At Columbus they showed us where all of
this was so. Koalas predominantly eat Eucalyptus browse. They're picky.
Even though they just eucalyptus. You would think, oh, they'd
eat all these varieties. They don't, so we have to
harvest it and places that can't grow it, like in
(06:25):
San Diego, we have a huge farm that we can
farm our brows from, which is fantastic.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
And brows being just the fresh cutting right exactly.
Speaker 5 (06:36):
So basically, the leaves that we feed we still leave
attached to a branch of a eucalyptus tree. So in
other places you don't necessarily have access to it because
they get snow or otherwise and maybe can't grow what
is needed for those animals. So with that, a lot
(06:57):
of what I tend to hear is, oh, koalas sleep
a lot, which ps they sleep eighteen to twenty hours
a day.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
That's a lot. That's a lot.
Speaker 5 (07:07):
Yeah, yes, I always ask teenagers, so would you like
to be a koala? Yes? Anyway, So what I hear
a lot is that the koala is sleep that much
because they're drugged somehow with things. That is not the case,
but it is tied into their food. Anyone who's ever
looked at any kind of eucalyptus and they come in
(07:29):
many varieties, but those leaves are very tough and they're
very thick. That is the predominant way that koalas get
their water, believe it or not, from those thick, tough leaves.
So if that's what you're eating, your sleep and a
whole bunch to digest it, because that's.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
Very tough, tough fibers, so you think about that being
their only source, and it's not high in calories, so
they're not gaining a lot of energy front correct, having
to work on digesting that right.
Speaker 5 (07:57):
And you can even liken it to things like carnivores
and all where they go out and they gorge themselves
and then what do they do sleep?
Speaker 4 (08:07):
Yeah, I think it's a line right, sleeping.
Speaker 6 (08:10):
Exactly. So it's the same kind of idea. It's just
with leaves.
Speaker 5 (08:14):
So it's not necessarily what's in the leaves that is
causing them to sleep, but the fact that they have
to digest those leaves so they're not high off of
the leaves.
Speaker 6 (08:24):
It's just a matter of correct correct.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
Yeah, I've heard that before. People have asked me that
before when giving tours the zoo. You know, oh, is
it true that they get a high off of the
Eucalyptus aga toxic for a lot of other species. But
those toxins aren't making them high. It's just the heavy, tough,
dense fiber.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (08:41):
To erect correct do they actually have to get very
technical with it. A very large secum, which is the
part of the digestive track for the size animal they are,
so for that mass to move through and for them
to be able to digest it, yeah, it.
Speaker 6 (08:56):
Takes some time, thanks, and they might as well sleep.
Speaker 4 (08:59):
Right as well.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
Right there hundreds of species if you calyp this, which
makes it really proud to be a San Diego and
cruising around the Safari Park in San Diega is and
seeing a lot of these plants were growing on property,
which is really great.
Speaker 4 (09:10):
It's a village, wouldn't you say, guys.
Speaker 1 (09:12):
I mean it's not just right the specialist taking care
of the koalas on habitat at the zoo. But I
love when I'm cruising around and I see all our
horticulture seem way up on the treetops collecting all that
great brows for those koalas.
Speaker 4 (09:23):
I mean they need what fresh brows?
Speaker 1 (09:25):
They need more than one species every single day, right.
Speaker 5 (09:29):
Yeah, So they spend a lot of time doing that,
and then we try not to show them what gets
pulled out from those habitats at the end of the day,
because remember I said, koalas are picky about what they eat.
So yeah, it's one of the things that I show,
especially to students and all. Okay, this is what it
(09:50):
looks like going in fresh this is what it looks
like coming out.
Speaker 6 (09:54):
So can you tell which is which?
Speaker 3 (09:56):
Sometimes you can't, you can't, sometimes.
Speaker 6 (09:57):
You can't go usually, but yes, yeah, they're.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
To nibble on the freshest sprouse, right and usually on
the ends only, right, exactly.
Speaker 4 (10:05):
It's a unique adaptation to can you actually speak a
little bit? What is so unique?
Speaker 1 (10:09):
But a koal in that Australian ecosys. This is one
of our conservation hubs as well in Australia. Right, So
when I think of koala, I'm thinking of one up
in a tree.
Speaker 4 (10:17):
So what is that? What's the behavior around that?
Speaker 5 (10:20):
Yeah, actually that's a really good question because then you go, okay.
Speaker 6 (10:23):
They sleep all the time.
Speaker 5 (10:25):
But as I say to people, a lot, animals just
have to behave to the extent that they can survive, right,
And koalas don't have a bunch of predators, and.
Speaker 6 (10:37):
Who knows, maybe that's because they have changed over the years.
Speaker 5 (10:42):
You know, their closest living relatives are actually ground dwelling
animals and that would be the wombat. Who I know
some people that's their favorite animal, right. Yeah, I'm looking
at my husband about it.
Speaker 4 (10:57):
And I didn't know that honestly, So that's super unique.
Speaker 5 (11:01):
Yeah, so it's interesting because one is purely on the ground.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
You don't see one of the ground sometimes.
Speaker 5 (11:07):
Yeah, yeah, growing absolutely so. And in fact, if you
think it's bad when we have our ground squirrels around
here in southern California and the holes they make, now
imagine a wombat. And for those of you who don't
know what a cute wombat looks like, they're a bit
bigger than our ground squirrels, and they actually dig out dens.
(11:28):
So with the wombats, and they are mercupials, so they
have a pouch. So their pouch is what we call
rear facing. So in other words, if you look at
a kangaroo or a wallabye or similar that when they're upright,
their pouch is upright, so you're seeing the baby's head
come out the top. Whereas with a wombat, Now if
(11:49):
you think they have to dig into the ground, so
they're they're they're throwing dirt around everywhere. If their pouch
we're facing that same way, they'd be thrown dirt in.
Speaker 6 (12:00):
We wouldn't be seeing wombats, that was the case.
Speaker 5 (12:02):
Right, So their pouch faces the opposite direction, ironically than
koalas who are up in trees have the exact same thing.
So their pouches do not face upwards like a kangaroo.
They actually are rear facing, similar to what you get
in a wombat.
Speaker 3 (12:22):
So how did the joey's not fall out of it?
Speaker 2 (12:27):
Something that's my phone would fall out.
Speaker 4 (12:32):
I'm always losing chain, So there's something to that.
Speaker 5 (12:35):
Right, just saying so this is where mother nature has
always steps in with things. So when you look at
the biology and how the physiology of those pouches work,
they're not open.
Speaker 6 (12:49):
They're not like our pockets in our pants.
Speaker 4 (12:53):
I'm thinking, like we need a poo.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
You know.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
The kangaroo, you know, all this stuff is in that
bag or in that pouchs.
Speaker 4 (12:58):
Not like that, not like right.
Speaker 5 (12:59):
Well, when you think of it in the same way
as like a kangaroo, a mother kangaroo, when that joey
is really small, isn't like, oh, I can't bounce around,
I can't move anywhere because bouncing any of us who
have hit a bump in the road or otherwise know
what flies out of you know, your bags in the
(13:19):
car otherwise, right exactly, So different from that you actually
have parts of the pouches that will tighten up so
that anything in there isn't going to come flying out. Now,
it's not a perfect seal. It's not like you're sealing
it up. Hence the wombat who still will need the
rear facing because it's not like velcrow. So even though
(13:47):
kolas are up in trees, there's two things that are
working for them with that. So when Joey is born,
it's like they're all head and mouth and like limb.
The great part is when they're rear facing, it's pretty
easy for that Joey to climb then into that pouch
from when they're born, right versus a kangaroo has to
(14:11):
go up and around and then down into the pouch.
So with any of the marsupials, the other thing that
happens is that that baby is then going to find
mom's nipple and attached to it, and believe it or not,
that attachment is pretty good. The other thing is that
then the pouch with that attachment, the mom knows like,
oh okay, I have a baby, and so that pouch
(14:34):
will tighten up and so that it's also keeping it
in there.
Speaker 4 (14:38):
So yeah, that's interesting and their native range.
Speaker 1 (14:41):
Where would say, for Australia, where would that be specifically
for koalas.
Speaker 5 (14:44):
So koalas have a really large home range. Yeah, so
I believe they're across most of their historic home range,
believe it or not. So they go all the way
from almost the northern tip, which is up in Queensland area,
which for those of us who live in North America
(15:06):
and all, that's the hotter part because it's closer to
the equator. But they stretch all the way down into
the southern realm as well.
Speaker 6 (15:15):
So yeah, so there are.
Speaker 4 (15:16):
Across all sorts of terrains right.
Speaker 6 (15:18):
Pretty much the eastern seaboard. Yeah, as.
Speaker 3 (15:23):
Correct.
Speaker 5 (15:24):
Correct if you've ever been to Australia, the center of
Australia is desert, so you're not going to find koalas
out in that area. But that's also part of the
reason they don't have as many predators is because we're
they're at you don't have some of those more predatory
type animals that you might find on the cusp of
those desert area.
Speaker 1 (15:45):
I don't really envision like a wedge tailed eagle like
cruising around that forest are trying to pick off.
Speaker 5 (15:50):
Right, and koalas get big enough, so across that range
they actually differ in size, so they get bigger as
you go southern, which colder colder.
Speaker 1 (16:03):
That made me think of something actually, because everyone thinks
of koala is cute and cuddly.
Speaker 4 (16:07):
You know, you stun them.
Speaker 1 (16:08):
But the way you're describing him now, I mean they
can defend themselves, right, They can move quick if they
have to, right, So you.
Speaker 5 (16:13):
Have to think even though they're tree dwelling and I
come from the primate world with things too, where you
have primates that will jump from tree to tree, Koalas
don't do that unless there is a reason, i e.
They're scared or something else is going on. So normally
koalas will climb down out of trees and then run
across the landscape to wherever it is that they want
(16:36):
to go up into another space.
Speaker 4 (16:39):
Oh cool.
Speaker 5 (16:40):
So because they climb up and down, they have really
big claws. So because they have to show me up
eucalyptus trees and you can absolutely see their claw marks
on the trees when you go out. For the most part,
because of the way the bark is on most of
the eucalyptus trees, they go up and down In fact,
(17:01):
it's a way in Australia that we can track down
where koalas have been.
Speaker 6 (17:05):
So yes, they've got nice claws.
Speaker 5 (17:07):
The other thing, remember we talked about the tough eucalyptus
le yes, So how do you get those? Well, you
got to have teeth that actually can take those off
of the branches.
Speaker 3 (17:20):
And a powerful jaw to grind it up too.
Speaker 5 (17:22):
Correct, Right, So I tell people a lot of times,
especially here in North America, if you've ever seen rabbit
teeth or like rodent anienship, it's similar to that in
the front because they're biting off of things and then
they have to grind it up in their back teeth.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
So as well equipped as a quala is to defend
itself if it has to, we also know they do
face a lot of challenges that clawing or biting isn't
going to help.
Speaker 3 (17:49):
With environmental issues.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
And that's part of your work, that is researching population sustainability,
working with our partners we have in Australia too, to
maintain and look at populations for safety issues. Not too
long ago, there's the big fires and Blue Mountains and
our partners were part of helping those walls out as well.
I'd love to start diving into some of the conservation
side of things and the work you do to help
(18:11):
better understand them and what they need.
Speaker 6 (18:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (18:14):
Absolutely, So we work with two field researchers right now.
One is more in that northern area in Queensland and
then the other one is in the Blue Mountains area,
which is about two and a half hours west.
Speaker 6 (18:29):
I have to get my east west right west of Sydney.
Speaker 5 (18:33):
And the reason I say that is because when you
have that big of a home range for a species,
there are very different conservation issues you're dealing with. So
up in the Queensland area, because it's the warmer climate,
it's nice, they're nice beaches. Those of you who might
want to go out to the Great Barrier Reef. This
(18:54):
is a very tourist type area, so there's a lot
of I don't want to say, but a lot of
overlap between where humans want to be and where koalas
want to be. And this has been going on for
a very long time and doctor Bill Ellis, who works there,
who I work with, has been doing a lot of
(19:16):
work looking at.
Speaker 6 (19:17):
Those specific things.
Speaker 5 (19:18):
So to take a quick example of that area, he
currently is looking at releasing koalas in an area that
historically you would have found koalas, but because there are
ranchers in the area that a lot of their habitat
and their interconnective part, I know, we talk about that
with a lot of different animals is having some kind
(19:39):
of connection in the field where they can get from
place to place. So with the work that he does
in that area, what we're specifically looking at is can
you release animals back into those areas and have them
successfully repatriate it. What's interr is doctor Kelly Lee, who's
(20:03):
down in New South Wales looking in the Blue Mountains
is actually looking at that on a natural scale. So
the Blue Mountains prior to the big fires that came through,
and we can touch on that a little bit too,
that area people came through and put orchards in. So
over the past probably twenty five years or so, those
(20:25):
orchards for the most part, the small farms and all
have gone away. And the eucalyptus and those of us
who know eucalyptus, it grows like a weed.
Speaker 2 (20:34):
Right.
Speaker 5 (20:35):
So this is a World Heritage site people do live
in and amongst it. It's also National Park, State Park
and all, so it gets utilized for multiple purposes. But
these areas where you're having this natural repatriation of eucalyptus,
well what comes right behind it. So she's starting to
(20:56):
see areas where koalas are coming back in.
Speaker 3 (21:00):
Oh, that's great.
Speaker 5 (21:00):
The Blue Mountains used to be sort of like the
epicenter type area of koalas. Historically, the koalas in that
area were part of where people went out to hunt
them when you start hearing about the fur trade that
was out of that area, So there were lots of
them back in the day. But now to start seeing
(21:23):
that natural repatriation of them coming back in is really
actually fascinating. So when you see that, and then having
the work done up in Queensland as well, where we're
looking at, okay, can we do this and put these
animals back in and have them be successful. The great
news is that it's working. Awesome, so great, and koalas
(21:48):
once again they're picky eaters. That is going to be
the main thing that you know, can this landscape actually
sustain it? The really great part for both the work
that we do in those two areas is that you
really have a lot of buy in these days from
the people who live in those areas, and that's what
(22:08):
you need. In the case of where doctor Ellis's with things,
they had a rancher who this is what he wanted
to do. And it's not that he's turning the land
back into just koala habitat. He actually is continuing to ranch.
And what's fascinating is that when you start having these
(22:29):
kind of collaborations, you can start see, especially on the
conservation side, does this work. Can we do this without saying, oh,
you just have to turn the land back right exactly?
And I know from previous work, not with koalas, that
a lot of times when you have trees growing in
areas and pasture land, that the pasture land is more productive,
(22:55):
it's more viable. It's fantastic to see this sort of
symbiosis between two sea guys.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
I want to jump back real quick too, with all
this work you just touched on and the idea of
reintroducing species or them coming in on their own. There's
a lot of knowledge though that. For example, I know
firsthand doctor Bill Ellis's work on Saint bees and all
the studies that have been done on their vocalizations, their communications,
everything within that whole concept of knowing and studying what
(23:25):
do they need to exist and how do they exist
in their space? Now we can take that information and
apply it to these ideas of Okay, let's bring koualis
into what was.
Speaker 3 (23:33):
You know, a ranch only. But this rancher wants to
work with us.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
I'm assuming doctor Ellis can leverage what he knows is
actually needed to create that solid footprint to reintroduces.
Speaker 5 (23:43):
It's really good and this really highlights how San Diego
Zoo Wildlife Alliance and how our hubs can work with things. So,
like I said, we've been doing stuff with koalas on
ground since the nineteen eighties. The other thing we've been
doing since that time is going over to Australia and
assisting in these conservation projects. Both doctor Ellis and doctor
(24:05):
Lee contacted me because of work that I was doing.
The research I was doing here with our koalas, So
there's this great connectedness with staff, in particular some of
the things you were talking about in vocalizations. I was
recording vocalizations here of our koalas trying to figure out
(24:27):
from our standpoint, Okay, we're looking at things like mate
choice and how do we keep our colony robust and
looking at the genetics. So we're coming at it from
sort of our zoo lens. But then what's happening is
you have field conservationists and researchers who are like, hey,
you have this information. So we started looking at things
(24:51):
and so something that I was looking at in terms
of okay, so how are they communicating here? How can
that help us with things on grounds that now, when
you're trying to record the movement patterns of koalas, that
you might go, oh, maybe I should be looking at
vocalizations as well. So there's a lot of that kind
(25:15):
of overlap that ends up happening. Doctor Lee contacted me
about some cent work. So the male koalas have what
we call external or chest scent gland, and for us
here we were curious to be like, okay, you know
it appears to quote turn on and produce things. What
is it producing? What does that look like? But in
(25:37):
comparison to field researchers, for the most part, when I
show up every day to collect some of the type
of information and data, I know where our koalas are, right,
I can tell you firsthand it can take days sometimes
if not ours to find koalas out in the field,
(25:59):
I think, so we can help them with speeding up
some of these processes, and then they take that information
and can really go with it. And in the case
of some of these types of things that we're looking at,
like the release of koalas into areas, that is all
made possible by some of the previous work that Bill
was doing, which then also tied into our animals here
(26:23):
at the San Diego Zoo.
Speaker 2 (26:24):
Yeah, so the San Diego Zoo koalas. We're basically creating
a baseline of information, which is if anybody has know
when we're talking about science, having that baseline, having that
basically Okay, this is our level, and then we can
go out and explore from there is so very important.
What a foundation you helped create with your research for
Bill doctor ellis to apply then in what he's doing.
(26:45):
And now we can look back and see how all
of that's time together to these quals being reintroduced to
old habitat that's been ranches for years.
Speaker 3 (26:54):
And then, like you said, it's that tie in.
Speaker 2 (26:56):
With the local community, those that are living there in
these spaces to really allow all that data and information
that you've been a part of for so long to
come to fruition now to have koalas going back out there,
that's so cool.
Speaker 5 (27:09):
Right, It's very cool because there's a lot of times
where people come and they see, say, are different animals
and you know, how does that tie in with stuff?
And it's not just koalas. You know, there's a lot
of different species that we work with here and why
we do the research, and it's always great from our
end to see it come full circle that it really
(27:32):
enhances the work that's being done out in the field
as well.
Speaker 2 (27:36):
It really is awesome to hear how the collaborative work
of the zoo and our partners, you know, I mean
we're the Wildlife Alliance.
Speaker 3 (27:43):
Right, the Wildlife Alliance, and it's just.
Speaker 2 (27:46):
Great to hear the stories of how it's all coming together,
not just the current work, but the history as well.
I can't thank you enough Jen for your time today.
I really appreciate you being on amazing wildlife and sharing
all your passionate and knowledge with everybody.
Speaker 6 (27:57):
You're welcome.
Speaker 5 (27:58):
Thank you for inviting me to talk about the cute
fuzzy koalas that we.
Speaker 3 (28:02):
Have the tree dwelling.
Speaker 7 (28:05):
I love to eave them more Now, such a great
conversation about koalas with Jen, and I really appreciate how
Jen explained the challenges and success they're having with reintroducing
koalas back into those lands that they once inhabited.
Speaker 4 (28:22):
I mean, I wonder what it's like for those people.
Speaker 1 (28:24):
Right, you wake up one morning and then all of
a sudden, you hear a koala sound like like a
koala bellow.
Speaker 2 (28:30):
Just for our listeners that that was Marco trying to
do a k Hopefully our sound engineer can give us
a proper bellow. But you're right, it is a very
unique and odd sound if they have not been in
that area for a while.
Speaker 3 (28:41):
I can only imagine what the people in.
Speaker 2 (28:42):
That area must think when they hear that for the
first time. And with that said, the fact that it's
the rangers asking to have the koalas come back to
the land that they ranch is so great. It gives
me hope for other species that have been displaced. Maybe
we'll start seeing others work with conservationists to bring species
back to areas that they were once found in before
the land was developed for human.
Speaker 4 (29:02):
Use, Right, I mean, it's awesome.
Speaker 1 (29:04):
I love how much gens work and research of the
koalas at the San Diego Zoo ended up being so
important and helpful to those doing koala conservation back in Australia.
Speaker 2 (29:13):
Another great example of the impact of the San Diego
Zoo wildlife flans and how working together allows us all
to do such great things.
Speaker 4 (29:20):
He really is a great example.
Speaker 1 (29:21):
Right, just makes my hot smile and we are always
welcoming other allies for wildlife. Anyone can join us and
support our conservation efforts. I encourage anyone interested in joining
us to go to our website SDZWA dot org to
learn more about our conservation hubs and how to get involved.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
You know, speaking of conservation hub, there is one hub
we have yet to dive into this season.
Speaker 4 (29:46):
Why do I feel like I'm walking into something right now?
Speaker 2 (29:48):
You know me so well, Marco and yes, I think
it's time for us to dive into the ocean's hub.
Speaker 3 (29:56):
What was that?
Speaker 2 (29:57):
Be sure to subscribe and tune into our next episode
to Marco and I find out more about the bears
that are considered marine mammals.
Speaker 3 (30:04):
The polar bear. Now, Marco went and I'm Rick Schwartz.
Thanks for listening.
Speaker 2 (30:13):
For more information about the San Diego Zoo and San
Diego Zoo Safari Park.
Speaker 3 (30:17):
Go to SDZWA dot org.
Speaker 2 (30:20):
Amazing Wildlife is a production of iHeartRadio's Ruby Studios. Our
supervising producer is Nikkiah Swinton and our sound designer and
editor is Sierra Spreen. For more shows from iHeartRadio, check
out the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen
to your favorite shows.
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Nikki Glaser Podcast
Every week comedian and infamous roaster Nikki Glaser provides a fun, fast-paced, and brutally honest look into current pop-culture and her own personal life.