Are Australia's Unique and Much Loved Koalas Facing Extinction? | ArticlesBase.com

<p>When I was a small boy, my first cuddly toy was a koala. I loved its softness and cherished it for many years. Today, it is still my favourite Australian animal.</p> <p>Sadly, there are worrying signs that koalas are vanishing from the Australian bush.</p> <p>The Australian Koala Foundation said its research showed the furry icons were suffering through urban development and climate change.</p> <p>The number of wild koalas in NSW, where they are already listed as vulnerable, could have dropped to as few as 8000. Koala numbers suffered in Victoria as a result of severe bushfires and the resultant destruction of their natural habitat including specific Eucalypt trees needed for feeding.</p> <p>Where can you see koalas today?</p> <p>Fortunately there are many sanctuaries in Australia where you can see these marsupials. All Australian zoos, including Australia Zoo have koala areas and every state in Australia has places where you can see these creatures in captivity. Just contact your local tourist bureau for details.</p> <p>My home state of Western Australia has a koala park called Cohunu. This place is particularly popular with visitors to Perth, including crew members from visiting United States warships when they are on recreation leave, following a tour of duty in the Middle East.</p> <p>But where can you see koalas in their natural habitat, in the wild?</p> <p>A few years ago my wife and I took a trip on the famous Great Ocean Road in Victoria. We loved the spectacular coastal scenery, the rain forests and the top surfing destinations including Bells Beach and Lorne.</p> <p>These were easy to find, but finding koalas in the wild was a little more elusive- even secretive. We had been told there were special places along the Great Ocean Road where we could find them.</p> <p> But where?</p> <p>As we enjoyed a beer with one of the locals at the Apollo Bay pub, the topic of koalas arose and he mentioned a number of secret spots where they could be seen.</p> <p>He was very cautious because of his concern for the safety for these vulnerable and slow moving animals and the dangers of large numbers of tourists, including those in tourist buses, disturbing and frightening them.</p> <p>Satisfied that we were genuine, he gave us a mud map showing us where we could find them, "just of the road."</p> <p>The following morning we set off, following his directions. There were no signposts on the road. Not even a car park.</p> <p>A short walk into the bush and there they were.</p> <p>We shared, briefly, the home of 9 koalas, some with babies, totally unconcerned with our presence and very vulnerable. We then understood why the locals were so protective and felt very privileged.</p> <p>My wife could barely contain her excitement as we walked below them in the silence of the forest, taking photos and absorbing an experience we would remember for ever.</p><strong>About the Author:</strong><br /><p>Graeme Lanham is a travel writer with a passion for Australia. His readers love his personal anecdotes and descriptions on the best places to see and experiences to enjoy. Secret places mainstream travellers never know. Visit his websites at <a target="_blank" href="http://www.traveltipsaustralia.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.traveltipsaustralia.com</a> and <a target="_blank" href="http://www.australia4backpackers.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.australia4backpackers.com</a> They both include 3 special FREE BONUS reports you must read before you start your Australian holidays. These reports will save you time and money and may even save your life!
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5 Fun Trends in Wedding Cakes For 2010

Planning a wedding can be a stressful time for a bride and groom. Imagine having to organize everything from the church and reception, the photographers and videographers, the clothes and the caterers - in fact, you can probably imagine this all too well!
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<br>Aside from everything mentioned, the wedding cake is one of the most important items in the event. That's because the cutting and feeding of the cake by the bride and groom signifies their first meal together as a married couple. As it becomes the focus of attention at some point during the wedding affair, many couples want their cake to be just perfect.
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<br>To help couples choose what style of cake is stylish and suits them best, here are five fabulous new trends in wedding cakes to choose from.
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<br><b>Black and White </b>
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<br>This style of cake has become popular in 2009 and is set to continue that way for the year ahead. This style is inspired by the fashion runways, with their current fondness for monochromatics and black Spanish lace. You can have your wedding cake designed in this classic color scheme, using white fondant icing and black or dark brown accents. This design works wonderfully if the design coordinates with the wedding dress or the bridesmaids' gowns.
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<br><b>Hexagonal or square shapes</b>
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<br>The typical heart or circular shaped wedding cakes have now become too conventional for many couples. So, cube-layered or hexagonal layered cakes have recently become an emerging trend. These angular cakes can also double as lovely centerpieces during the reception, especially if they sport geometric accents in their designs.
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<br><b>Blue is the hue</b>
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<br>The color blue in wedding cakes has also become popular of late with soon-to-be-married couples. Shades of blue, sometimes meshed with green like aquamarine or turquoise, have made an appearance with couples who prefer a colorful cake. Incorporating this cake trend with a tropical wedding theme will work fabulously, especially if you use sky blue, aquamarine and turquoise as the base colors of your cake icing. Decorating the cake with white, silver, lilac or light grey accents will liven up your overall cake design.
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<br><b>Think pink</b>
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<br>The color pink is projected to be used even more in 2010 as a wedding motif. So it's only natural to draw on pink for the wedding cake, coordinating with your bridesmaids' dresses and bridal gown accents. Try using pink as the base color of your cake icing and decorating it with white, silver or pink embellishments and flowers. But if that's too much pink for your liking, try white as the cake base icing, and pink for the accents, like fresh roses.
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<br><b>Square cupcakes</b>
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<br>Using a tower of cupcakes instead of a traditional wedding cake was also a huge trend in 2009. It's become fashionable to use cupcakes, which conveniently eliminates the need for a skilled and designated cake cutter. In this way, the guests each enjoy an individual treat of their own, with ease. Because it's practical, cute and inexpensive, it's expected that this trend will continue throughout the year, but with a twist: 2010's cupcakes will often actually be square-shaped mini-cakes, while still reflecting the year's most popular colors and designs.
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<br>About the Author: Shop for <a target="_new" href="http://www.favorideas.com/" rel="nofollow">wedding favors</a> and <a target="_new" href="http://www.favorideas.com/shopping/wedding-favor-boxes.html" rel="nofollow">wedding favor boxes</a> at FavorIdeas, and plan your theme with ease from "I will" to "I do."
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