"This book examines the koala's long seclusion from discovery (1803), its slow penetration of the European classificatory system, its distinctive history, and its emergence through observation, artistic and scientific depiction. It also covers koala destruction through settlement and hunting in the 19th century through to its roles in the 20th century, including the koala in Australian literature; the advent of the nature park, zoos, transportation, resettlement, and protection by key individuals and organisations, through to its current mixed levels of survival and its prominent role as an Australian icon. More than a national phenomenon, koalas are significant animals on the world stage and receive considerable attention from the international media."--Publisher.