Episode #129 Show Notes

Koalas: Conserving Australia’s Most Iconic Species with Danielle Clode, PhD

May 2, 2023

Headshot photo of Danielle Clode, PhD
Danielle Clode, PhDConservation Biologist and Author

Episode #129 Summary

When you think of Australia, what are the first wild images that come to mind? Surely, vivid images of The Great Barrier Reef, vast desert and bushland, kangaroos, and flightless birds flashed before you. I’m sure you also saw an image of Australia’s most famous animal – the koala. With an animal as well known as the koala, I have to ask, how much do you actually know about this species? Is their reputation as lazy animals warranted? Why do they feed almost exclusively on toxic Eucalypt leaves? How do they find each other during the breeding season? Do their populations differ from one region to another? What does the future look like for this most iconic of species? You probably have a guess for each question, but how do you know for sure? 

I know I personally had a long list of stereotypical views about koalas and had my own guesses for each question. But now, I can confidently say that I’m a borderline koala expert after reading a new book just released called Koala: A Natural History and an Uncertain Future, and the author of this book is the guest of today’s episode.

Today we are sitting down with Danielle Clode, PhD, Conservation Biologist and Author. After leaving Oxford with a fresh PhD in hand, Danielle decided to use her education and communication skills to become a science writer. Since then, she’s written several books about all sorts of topics, but felt inspired to write a comprehensive story about the well-known, but commonly misunderstood, koala. While there are countless children’s books about koalas, previously there weren’t any in-depth, scientifically sound books about the species, and Danielle has filled this important gap with Koala. 

Danielle and I discuss the inspiration for her book, misconceptions about koalas and the biological reasonings for their behavior, top threats koalas are facing, the devastating Black Summer fires of 2019, the difficulties of writing a book during a pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, tips to take your scientific communication to a new level, and her hopes for the future.

Alright, everyone. Please enjoy this conversation with Danielle.

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Danielle in the Field

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Koala: A Natural History and an Uncertain Future

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