EPOW - Ecology Picture of the Week

Why Did the Koala Cross the Road?

Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus), Family Phascolarctidae
South Australia, Australia

Explanation:  So there we were, cruising on highway A66 through the farm fields and pastures along the coast in South Australia, when suddenly ... what the? ... 

... this lone koala appeared on the roadway, hogging the right lane and stopping (the two-car) traffic.  

It was an unexpected sight.

So why DID the koala cross the road?

Before we answer that, let's take a quick look at some of the other hazards that this iconic species is facing on its home turf ... including a housing development that may impinge on its habitat, even brazenly using its image as a marketing scheme:

Highway signs in the region
warn of koalas on the
roadways.

And the above images present a clue ... 

This koala was actually crossing large expanses of open pastures to get to the next woodland where it would find solace in the trees, and eucalyptus leaves for lunch.  

I was amazed to see and learn that koalas would disperse across kilometers of open fields -- and risky highways -- to get from patch to patch of what was sparse woodland cover.

And THAT'S why the koala crossed the road!  

Acknowledgment:
   My sincere thanks to Dr. Trent Penman for hosting me on this exploration of South Australia and southern Victoria.