Australian forest clearing leaves shocking traces of lost koala homes
Deep in Australian woodland an ecologist finds fresh evidence of habitat loss for native animals. Recent logging turned koala-rich forest into bare ground leaving only scratch marks as proof of their past presence
In Australias Sheas Nob State Forest the transition from lush-green woodland to bare earth hits like a punch to the gut. Mark Graham an eco-expert drives his old-school pickup through dense eucalyptus trees — the scenery changes fast from shadow-filled forest to a football-field sized patch of sun-beaten dirt and broken timber
The fresh-made clearing (which appeared just weeks ago) shows clear signs of heavy logging activity: tree-stumps dot the ground like forgotten chess pieces; splinters of wood scatter across red-brown soil. Its a stark change from the once-thriving eco-system that stood here before
Walking through whats left Graham stops at a fallen grey-gum eucalyptus: its trunk bears tell-tale scratch marks — evidence that koalas used this tree as their home. Now these slow-moving leaf-eaters had to find new places to live‚ though their previous presence remains etched in the bark of their former shelter
