Relocating koalas to New Zealand is a nice idea, but it isn't a good one | James Russell

A proposal for bushfire-threatened koalas to be introduced is generous but ultimately misguided - they should be conserved inside Australia

A petition currently doing the rounds on the internet advocates for koalas to be introduced to New Zealand, in response to the horrific scenes of native animals suffering in the Australian bushfires. New Zealand has more than 23,000 hectares of eucalyptus plantations so why not? Isn't that the spirit of Anzac cooperation?

This is not the first time an Australian marsupial has been introduced into New Zealand. In 1837, the brushtail possum was brought across, and that introduction worked extremely well. In fact, a little too well.