this post was submitted on 04 Jul 2024
58 points (98.3% liked)

World News

37362 readers
1641 users here now

A community for discussing events around the World

Rules:

We ask that the users report any comment or post that violate the rules, to use critical thinking when reading, posting or commenting. Users that post off-topic spam, advocate violence, have multiple comments or posts removed, weaponize reports or violate the code of conduct will be banned.

All posts and comments will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. This means that some content that violates the rules may be allowed, while other content that does not violate the rules may be removed. The moderators retain the right to remove any content and ban users.


Lemmy World Partners

News !news@lemmy.world

Politics !politics@lemmy.world

World Politics !globalpolitics@lemmy.world


Recommendations

For Firefox users, there is media bias / propaganda / fact check plugin.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/media-bias-fact-check/

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
top 15 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] credo@lemmy.world 21 points 3 days ago

Proper tldr;

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Queensland, Australia, has implemented a new policy prohibiting visitors from cuddling koalas. This decision was made in response to concerns raised by animal welfare advocates and experts about the stress and potential harm cuddling may cause to the koalas. The sanctuary's management aims to prioritize the well-being and natural behavior of the koalas while still allowing visitors to interact with them in other ways that are less intrusive.

More:

Koalas are naturally solitary animals and are sensitive to stress from various sources, including human interaction. When koalas are cuddled or held by visitors, it can cause stress due to several reasons:

-Koalas are wild animals and may find being handled or restrained uncomfortable or frightening. This can lead to stress responses such as increased heart rate, elevated cortisol levels (stress hormone), and defensive behaviors.

-Koalas spend most of their time sleeping and resting in trees, and they are not accustomed to being picked up or held. Being cuddled can disrupt their natural behavior patterns and routines.

-Improper handling or sudden movements by visitors can potentially cause physical harm to the koalas, such as scratches or other injuries.

-Close contact with humans can also pose health risks, such as the transmission of diseases or parasites between koalas and visitors.

-With koalas already facing threats in the wild, such as habitat loss and disease, minimizing stress and ensuring their well-being in captivity is crucial for their long-term conservation.

[–] Obi@sopuli.xyz 9 points 3 days ago

You refuse to cuddle koalas for their welfare.

I refuse to cuddle koalas because I don't want Chlamydia.

We are not the same.

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 11 points 3 days ago

My dad got to "cuddle" a koala on a trip to Australia back in the 80s. He said it dug its claws into his back and it smelled bad and it was just a highly unpleasant experience overall.

Just because something looks cute doesn't mean you should cuddle with it. You probably shouldn't cuddle with a hedgehog either.

He did say that he also got to pet a wombat and it was very sweet.

[–] VelvetStorm@lemmy.world 9 points 3 days ago

Ya, it should be banned. We have no right to force what we want on the animals. It's just going to stress them out.

[–] autotldr@lemmings.world 1 points 3 days ago (3 children)

This is the best summary I could come up with:


Celebrities, politicians and untold thousands of tourists have done it for years but cuddling koalas at a Brisbane wildlife sanctuary is coming to an end after feedback from visitors.

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary opened in the Queensland capital in 1927, and describes itself as the world’s first koala sanctuary.

Now it has announced an end to koala holding as of Monday, replacing it with “close-up” experiences instead.

The move comes as an international animal welfare organisation leads calls for koala cuddling to be officially outlawed.

Here’s what you need to know about holding koalas in Australia:

With additional reporting by Australian Associated Press


The original article contains 103 words, the summary contains 103 words. Saved 0%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!

[–] schnurrito@discuss.tchncs.de 3 points 3 days ago

you're a low koalaty bot

[–] Maestro@fedia.io 2 points 3 days ago
[–] Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world 3 points 3 days ago (5 children)

You eliminated the parts that explain why it's being banned. Why can't I snuggle the koalas???

[–] Etterra@lemmy.world 6 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Do you want chlamydia? Because that's how you catch chlamydia.

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 3 points 3 days ago

Which is why this is a real place-

[–] deranger@sh.itjust.works 3 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

London-based animal welfare group World Animal Protection says cuddling koalas is cruel and is petitioning the state government for an outright ban. The group argues that studies show koalas are harmed “by the presence of visitors alone”, because people keep them awake longer than they would typically be in the wild, among other reasons. Koalas typically sleep about 20 hours a day.

[–] Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago

TIL I'm a koala! I also feel mentally harmed if I have to deal with people all day, instead of sleeping 20 hours a day.

.........or, maybe I'm just depressed?

[–] Brunbrun6766@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago

Heres what you need to know:

Oh, I guess there's nothing I need to know

[–] NESSI3@lemmy.sdf.org 0 points 3 days ago

Because being a plaything for human entertainment interrupts their daily 20 hour sleep cycle and stresses them out.

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 0 points 3 days ago

It's a shitty bot that eliminates the most important part of a story on the regular and if I had my way, it wouldn't be in this community.