44 
The Queensland Naturalist. 
October, 1927 
Unfortunately, the native bear was not so widely 
distributed as most of our marsupials. It was absent from 
the far 'north and far wqst of Queensland, and was not: 
found in Tasmania, South and West Australia. As it 
lives in the open forest, it was not likely to secure much 
protection in our sanctuaries, which largely consisted of 
rich scrub country. 
“The Koala is a unique product of the Australian 
bush, and is one of the most specialised of our marsup- 
ials,” declared Mr. Longman. “Its quaintness and in- 
offensiveness have gained for it the love' of all Australian 
children. The civilised nations of the world treasured 
the works of great artists, and none but vandals or bar- 
barians would destroy great paintings or fine statues. 
In one respect, nature’s artistry is even more valuable, 
for when once a rare bird or mammal has been extermin- 
ated, not all the wealth or genius of the world can replace 
it. The people of Australia have a unique heritage in 
their remarkable fauna, and they are under a special 
obligation to preserve it for posterity.” 
Capt. S. A. White, the well-known South Australian 
naturalist, who chanced to be in Brisbane at the time, 
confessed to being rather startled and horrified when he 
read, on his way to Brisbane, of the intention of the Gov- 
ernment to declare an open season for native bears. 
“There is not the slightest doubt,” he said, “that once 
any form of animal life is reduced to a certain number 
it ‘passes’ out as quickly as possible — it disappears, and 
it is useless to- try to stop such disappearance.” He ob- 
served that eight species of birds had disappeared in 
South Australia during his lifetime. If the Queensland 
Government opened the season for native bears, he con- 
tinued, there was not the slightest doubt that they would 
lose the bear in Australia. Not only would Australia be 
condemned for not having the forethought to preserve 
this animal life, but it would mean a very great loss to 
the scientific world. ITe hoped that the Government 
would close the season for bears permanently. 
Following the meeting a deputation of representa- 
tives of the Queensland Naturalists’ Club and other- 
scientific bodies waited on the Acting Premier (Mr. A. J. 
Jones), but in spite of the strong case put forward, and 
State-wide protests from all classes of the community, the 
Cabinet, after two meetings, in which the members re- 
