COLUMBUS, Ohio (10TV) -- The devastating wildfires in Australia are drawing attention to the plight of the koala as hundreds have died with their habitats destroyed.
10TV sat down with Katrina McCauley, assistant curator of Australia and the Islands at the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium. McCauley helps take care of the zoo's three koalas.
McCauley said for the koala, life revolves around eucalyptus.
"They don't eat anything else," she said. "So, if that food is gone, it's not only their home and where they live, it's how they survive."
The zoo gets its eucalyptus flown in from suppliers in the United States. McCauley said while they are not worried about their supply, there is cause for concern in Australia.
"I think it's a wake-up call - it's sounding the alarm," McCauley said.
The koala population is vulnerable, but despite some recent headlines in the wake of the fire, scientists said they are not extinct. However, that doesn't mean it couldn't happen.
"We know they are not everywhere. They are declining in population. We are not seeing them as often and their populations are struggling," McCauley said.
McCauley explained koalas not only get their food from eucalyptus leaves, but also their water. Koalas are picky eaters.
"Even if there is a eucalyptus tree right in front of them, if it's not a species they like, they won't go for that tree," she said.
Sometimes, koalas will travel to find a tree they do like, but that can be dangerous.
"Koalas on the ground are susceptible to dingoes or feral dogs," McCauley said. "If they have to cross a road to get to another patch of eucalyptus trees, they might get hit by a car."
She explained that this is why koalas prefer to stay up in their tree where it is safe. However, they may not come down even if there is a fire.
"Their inclination is not to come down, it's to go up," she said. "Honestly, a lot of times, that's what ends up killing them. They go up in the tree and that tree burns to the ground."
McCauley said the best way to help the iconic species is to protect their lifeline -- the eucalyptus.
"Stop the fire," she said. "If you can prevent those fires from happening, that's the best thing to do in the first place."