is recognised worldwide as an iconic symbol of the country because of
its distinctive appearance. It is the only extant representative of the
family Phascolarctidae and its closest living relatives are the wombats.
It is easily recognisable by its stout, tailless body, round, fluffy
ears and large, spoon-shaped nose. It is popularly known as the koala
bear because of its bear-like appearance. The koala has a body length of
60–85 cm (24–33 in) and weighs 4–15 kg (9–33 lb). Pelage
colour ranges from silver grey to chocolate brown. Koalas typically
inhabit open Eucalyptus woodlands, and the leaves of these trees make up
most of their diet. Because this eucalypt diet provides them with only
low nutrition and energy, koalas are largely sedentary and sleep for up
to 20 hours a day. They are asocial animals, and bonding only exists
between mothers and dependent offspring. They have few natural predators
and parasites but are threatened by various pathogens, as well as by
bushfires and droughts. The biggest threat to their existence is habitat
destruction due to agriculture and urbanisation.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koala>
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
1819:
Fifteen people were killed and 400–700 others were injured
when cavalry charged into a crowd of about 60–80,000 who were gathered
at St Peter's Field, Manchester, England, to demand the reform of
parliamentary representation.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peterloo_Massacre>
1863:
After Spain had annexed the Dominican Republic, rebels raised
the Dominican flag in Santiago de los Caballeros to begin the War of
Restoration.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominican_Restoration_War>
1929:
A long-running dispute between Muslims and Jews over access to
the Western Wall in Jerusalem escalated into a week-long period of
violent riots throughout Palestine.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1929_Palestine_riots>
1960:
Joseph Kittinger parachuted from a balloon over New Mexico at
102,800 feet (31,330 m), setting records for high-altitude jump, free-
fall height, and fastest speed by a human without an aircraft.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Kittinger>
1977:
Elvis Presley, "The King of Rock and Roll", was officially
pronounced dead at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee,
after he was found unresponsive on the floor of his Graceland bathroom.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elvis_Presley>
_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:
nowise:
(In) no way, (in) no manner, definitely not.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/nowise>
___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:
Liberality consists less in giving a great deal than in gifts
well timed.
--Jean de La Bruyère
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Jean_de_La_Bruy%C3%A8re>
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