#habitatgrab — Public Fediverse posts

Koala interactions, affection between young male koalas

"Three males engaging in unexpected “affiliative” behaviours. They were grooming each other, sniffing each other’s genitals and vocalising to each other in soft, high-pitched calls, similar to the sounds baby koalas make... High density means the home ranges of koalas are more likely to overlap and their interactions will be more frequent. It also means competition for food, space and mates can be especially high. " >>
https://theconversation.com/i-was-shocked-a-scientist-tracking-koalas-films-startling-behaviour-between-young-males-247339

"The species was almost hunted to extinction...They used to skin them alive and put them back up the tree with no fur." >>
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-08-30/killing-koalas-90-years-since-qld-month-long-open-season/8839720
#koalas #marsupials #mammals #behaviour #SoundEcology #HabitatGrab #destruction #NSWLogging #roadkill #dogattacks #roads

There is a “background level of genetic diversity loss across species”.

Biodiversity continues to be lost worldwide at unprecedented rates
"Genetic diversity loss occurs globally and is a realistic prediction for many species, especially birds and mammals, in the face of threats such as land use change, disease, abiotic natural phenomena and harvesting or harassment. Conservation strategies designed to improve environmental conditions, increase population growth rates and introduce new individuals (for example, restoring connectivity or performing translocations) may maintain or even increase genetic diversity. Our findings underscore the urgent need for active, genetically informed conservation interventions to halt genetic diversity loss."
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Shaw, R.E., Farquharson, K.A., Bruford, M.W. et al. Global meta-analysis shows action is needed to halt genetic diversity loss. Nature (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-08458-x
#biodiversity #extinctions #loss #GBF #GeneticDiversity #wildlife #birds #mammals #HabitatGrab #humanImpact #harassment #OnGroundConservation #conservation