People think that now but it hasn’t always been the case. The first white Australian colonists were not at all sentimental about the animal, and shot millions of the creatures for their dense, ash-grey fur. Two million skins had been exported out of Australia by 1924.
As a result, the koala appeared to be heading for extinction by the 1930’s, and only strict protection allowed the population in some parts of its range to recover to a healthy level. Paradoxically, some areas are now over-populated by koalas. In small, isolated forests it is easy for the animals to eat all their food supply, and on several occasions koalas have been removed from such areas by conservationists and released in places where food is more abundant.
The Koala is strictly a wild animal and does not keep well in captivity of any kind. It is now a protected species and people recognise its value as an indigenous Australian marsupial, rather than for its cute appearance.