AUSTRALIA'S FAUNA.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19112, 22 September 1927, Page 9

AUSTRALIA'S FAUNA.

KILLING OF NATIVE BEARS. (FBOJC OUR OWX CORBEBFOSDE.TT.) SYDNEY, September 8. The question of an open season is Queensland for the fascinating little native bear, or Koala, which is closely protected in other.States, has caused something of a stir in Sydney, and has been given widespread prominence in the Press. The protection of this little animal, which is quite inoffensive, and not, in any circumstances, a pest, is a matter, it is urgecj, which should be taken up by the Commonwealth, in view of the fact that the borders lend themselves to an infringement of the State laws. A professor who has made a study of the native bears says plainly that the slaughter of these animals, merely for the profits from their pelts, is one of the most brutalised occupations in which any one can engage, especially as the little bears are so harmless, so affectionate in captivity, and so tenacious of life, even when so severely wounded. One of the scientists at the Australian Museum in Sydney tell? the touching story of one of these bears when taken quite young from its mother, as an example of the undesirable practice of keeping them captive. The baby bear fretted and cried in its loneliness and would not sleep on the cushion which had been provided for it. Australia is being told plainly that it will be' an everlasting disgrace to it if it allows the native bear to be exterminated by the hand of man, as it has allowed other animal species to become extinct because of a laisees faire attitude*