A mother koala named Gladys is pictured with her twin joeys, who have been medically diagnosed as being underweight, at a rehabilitation enclosure next to their carer's home, who volunteers for the animal rescue agency, Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service, also knows as WIRES, where they are being rehabilitated, in Wedderburn, Australia, September 11, 2020. Gladys and her joeys were rescued from an area where urban development is encroaching on koala habitat. REUTERS/Loren Elliott SEARCH "KOALAS ELLIOTT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY 

Morgan Philpott, a carer who volunteers with the animal rescue agency, Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service, also knows as WIRES, collects leaves to be fed to a koala in rehabilitation, in Kurrajong, Australia, July 17, 2020. "They really run the risk of becoming extinct inside our lifetime," Philpott said of the New South Wales koala population. "They need the trees to eat, and if we keep cutting them down they're going to die." REUTERS/Loren Elliott SEARCH "KOALAS ELLIOTT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

A sick koala named Wally, rescued by the animal rescue agency, Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service, also known as WIRES, on the outskirts of Sydney in an area where urban development is encroaching on koala habitat, is treated as part of a rehabilitation process at Sydney University Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Sydney, Australia, July 10, 2020. REUTERS/Loren Elliott SEARCH "KOALAS ELLIOTT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY 

The burnt bark of a tree is seen in a forested area, in a habitat populated by koalas, that was damaged in a bushfire, at Kanangra-Boyd National Park, in the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, near Jenolan, Australia, September 14, 2020. REUTERS/Loren Elliott SEARCH "KOALAS ELLIOTT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Research scientist Dr. Victoria Inman and Dr. Kellie Leigh, the executive director of the not-for-profit conservation organisation Science for Wildlife, release a koala named Pele and her joey back into the wild, after a team from Science for Wildlife, briefly captured them in order to conduct maintenance on Pele's radio collar and assess her and the joey's health, as part of The Blue Mountains Koala Project, a population monitoring program spearheaded to plan for koala recovery in the region, in Kanangra-Boyd National Park, the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, near Jenolan, Australia, September 15, 2020. Science for Wildlife uses advanced methods to track koala movements and monitor populations in bushfire affected areas. "At some of our sites, the forests are really tall, the canopies really thick, so you can't necessarily find koalas just by looking up," Leigh said. REUTERS/Loren Elliott SEARCH "KOALAS ELLIOTT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Houses stand near the foothills of the Blue Mountains on the outskirts of Sydney, an area where koalas are being threatened by land clearing and urban sprawl, seen from Kurrajong Heights, Australia, October 13, 2020. REUTERS/Loren Elliott SEARCH "KOALAS ELLIOTT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Tracey, who volunteers for the animal rescue agency, Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service, also knows as WIRES, cares for twin koala joeys, who have been diagnosed as being underweight, and their mother named Gladys, who were rescued from an area where urban development is encroaching on koala habitat, at a rehabilitation enclosure next to her home, in Wedderburn, Australia, September 11, 2020. Koala conservationists are focusing more than ever on the city as population growth in metropolises like Sydney - home to a fifth of Australia's 25 million population - drives demand to clear forests and make way for homes. Traffic safety signs normally associated with tight corners and speed bumps now show the risk of koalas crossing the road in developed suburbs. "We do need housing to live in but there needs to be a balance and there needs to be a balance to ensure that these species survive," said Tracey. REUTERS/Loren Elliott SEARCH "KOALAS ELLIOTT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Trees stand in a habitat populated by koalas in the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, near Bilpin, Australia, October 13, 2020. Picture taken with a drone. REUTERS/Jill Gralow SEARCH "KOALAS ELLIOTT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Team members from Science for Wildlife, a not-for-profit conservation organisation, use a radio-tracking device to locate a koala being monitored, as part of The Blue Mountains Koala Project, a population monitoring program spearheaded to plan for koala recovery in the region, in Kanangra-Boyd National Park, the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, near Jenolan, Australia, September 15, 2020. REUTERS/Loren Elliott SEARCH "KOALAS ELLIOTT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Smudge, a dog who is trained to follow the scent of koala droppings, stands during a population density survey conducted by not-for-profit conservation organisation Science for Wildlife, in a habitat that was burnt in a bushfire, in the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, near Jenolan, Australia, September 14, 2020. REUTERS/Loren Elliott SEARCH "KOALAS ELLIOTT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Dr. Kellie Leigh, the executive director of the not-for-profit conservation organisation Science for Wildlife, and her team, conduct a health assessment on a wild koala joey with its mother close by, as part of The Blue Mountains Koala Project, a population monitoring program spearheaded to plan for koala recovery in the region, in Kanangra-Boyd National Park, the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, near Jenolan, Australia, September 15, 2020. REUTERS/Loren Elliott SEARCH "KOALAS ELLIOTT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

A mother koala named Kali and her joey, monitored by not-for-profit conservation organisation Science for Wildlife, as part of the Blue Mountains Koala Project spearheaded to plan for koala recovery in the region, are seen in their natural habitat in an area affected by bushfires, in the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, near Jenolan, Australia, September 14, 2020. REUTERS/Loren Elliott SEARCH "KOALAS ELLIOTT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

John Stark, who volunteers for the animal rescue agency, Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service, also knows as WIRES, prepares to release a rescued koala named Ernie back into his natural habitat, following medical treatment for chlamydia, where he had to have one of his eyes removed in Grose Vale, Sydney, Australia, July 25, 2020. REUTERS/Loren Elliott SEARCH "KOALAS ELLIOTT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

A koala named Ernie, is transported to the area from which he was rescued, in preparation for being released back into his natural habitat, following medical treatment for chlamydia, where he had to have one of his eyes removed, in Grose Vale, Sydney, Australia, July 25, 2020. REUTERS/Loren Elliott SEARCH "KOALAS ELLIOTT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

A rescued koala named Ernie climbs up a tree as he is released back into his natural habitat, following medical treatment for chlamydia, where he had to have one of his eyes removed, in Grose Vale, Sydney, Australia, July 25, 2020. REUTERS/Loren Elliott SEARCH "KOALAS ELLIOTT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

A koala suffering from chlamydia, rescued from an area where urban development is encroaching on koala habitat, undergoes health assessments while under anaesthesia at Vineyard Veterinary Hospital, in Vineyard, Sydney, Australia, October 1, 2020. REUTERS/Loren Elliot SEARCH "KOALAS ELLIOTT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

A sick koala named Wally, rescued by the animal rescue agency, Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service, also knows as WIRES, on the outskirts of Sydney in an area where urban development is encroaching on koala habitat, is taken to have an MRI scan as he is treated during a rehabilitation process at Sydney University Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Sydney, Australia, July 10, 2020. REUTERS/Loren Elliott SEARCH "KOALAS ELLIOTT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Veterinary anaesthesia and analgesia resident Christopher Sun treats a sick koala named Wally, rescued by the animal rescue agency, Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service, also knows as WIRES, on the outskirts of Sydney in an area where urban development is encroaching on koala habitat, at Sydney University Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Sydney, Australia, July 10, 2020. REUTERS/Loren Elliott SEARCH "KOALAS ELLIOTT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

A scan of a sick koala named Wally, rescued by the animal rescue agency, Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service, also knows as WIRES, on the outskirts of Sydney in an area where urban development is encroaching on koala habitat, is seen as he is treated as part of a rehabilitation process at Sydney University Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Sydney, Australia, July 10, 2020. REUTERS/Loren Elliott SEARCH "KOALAS ELLIOTT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Brie Sloggett, a field ecologist at the not-for-profit conservation organisation Science for Wildlife, assesses the health of a rescued koala named Ernie, following medical treatment for chlamydia, where he had to have one of his eyes removed, before he is released back into his natural habitat, in Windsor, Australia, July 25, 2020. REUTERS/Loren Elliott SEARCH "KOALAS ELLIOTT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Christopher Sun, a veterinary anaesthesia and analgesia resident, carries a sick koala, under anaesthesia, named Wally, who was rescued by the animal rescue agency, Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service, also knows as WIRES, back to an enclosure to await pick-up by his carer, after receiving treatment at Sydney University Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Sydney, Australia, July 10, 2020. Wally was rescued on the outskirts of Sydney in an area where urban development is encroaching on koala habitat. REUTERS/Loren Elliott SEARCH "KOALAS ELLIOTT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

A rescued koala named Ruben, is put under anaesthesia while being treated for cataracts at Eye Clinic For Animals (ECA), a specialist veterinary ophthalmology practice, while being rehabilitated before a planned release back into his natural habitat, in Sydney, Australia, July 28, 2020. Ruben was captured from a low tree by a main highway, in an area where koala habitat is being encroached upon by urban sprawl. Koalas near main highways, are at high risk of being hit by a car when moving amongst trees. REUTERS/Loren Elliott SEARCH "KOALAS ELLIOTT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

A rescued koala named Ruben, who has cataracts, is tended to by veterinary ophthalmology nurse Mayara Galetti while under anaesthesia, as he is treated for cataracts at Eye Clinic For Animals (ECA), a specialist veterinary ophthalmology practice, while being rehabilitated before a planned release back into his natural habitat, in Sydney, Australia, July 28, 2020. Ruben was captured from a low tree by a main highway, in an area where koala habitat is being encroached upon by urban sprawl. Koalas near main highways, are at high risk of being hit by a car when moving amongst trees. REUTERS/Loren Elliott SEARCH "KOALAS ELLIOTT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

A rescued koala named Ruben, is treated for cataracts, while under anaesthesia, by veterinary ophthalmology nurse Mayara Galetti and veterinary anaesthesia doctor Colin Dunlop, at Eye Clinic For Animals (ECA), a specialist veterinary ophthalmology practice, while being rehabilitated before a planned release back into the wild, in Sydney, Australia, July 28, 2020. Ruben was captured from a low tree by a main highway, in an area where koala habitat is being encroached upon by urban sprawl. Koalas near main highways, are at high risk of being hit by a car when moving amongst trees. REUTERS/Loren Elliott SEARCH "KOALAS ELLIOTT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

A rescued koala named Ruben, is treated for cataracts at Eye Clinic For Animals (ECA), a specialist veterinary ophthalmology practice, while being rehabilitated before a planned release back into his natural habitat, in Sydney, Australia, July 28, 2020. Ruben was captured from a low tree by a main highway, in an area where koala habitat is being encroached upon by urban sprawl. Koalas near main highways, are at high risk of being hit by a car when moving amongst trees. REUTERS/Loren Elliott SEARCH "KOALAS ELLIOTT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Burnt trees, in a habitat known to have been populated by koalas before being damaged in a bushfire, stand in the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, Australia, October 13, 2020. REUTERS/Loren Elliott SEARCH "KOALAS ELLIOTT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Sophie Olejniczak, a volunteer at the not-for-profit conservation organisation Science for Wildlife, uses binoculars to observe a koala at the top of a tree, as part of The Blue Mountains Koala Project, a population monitoring program spearheaded to plan for koala recovery in the region, in Kanangra-Boyd National Park, the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, near Jenolan, Australia, September 15, 2020. REUTERS/Loren Elliott SEARCH "KOALAS ELLIOTT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Dr. Kellie Leigh, the executive director of the not-for-profit conservation organisation Science for Wildlife, conducts a health assessment on a koala named Pele as part of The Blue Mountains Koala Project, a population monitoring program spearheaded to plan for koala recovery in the region, in the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, near Jenolan, Australia, September 15, 2020. Science for Wildlife uses advanced methods to track koala movements and monitor populations in bushfire affected areas. "At some of our sites, the forests are really tall, the canopies really thick, so you can't necessarily find koalas just by looking up," Leigh said. REUTERS/Loren Elliott SEARCH "KOALAS ELLIOTT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

A koala crossing caution sign is seen in an area where urban development is encroaching on koala habitat in Wedderburn, Australia, September 11, 2020. REUTERS/Loren Elliott SEARCH "KOALAS ELLIOTT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

John Stark, who volunteers for the animal rescue agency, Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service, also knows as WIRES, releases a rescued koala named Ernie back into the wild, following medical treatment for chlamydia, where one of his eyes had to be removed, in Grose Vale, Sydney, Australia, July 25, 2020. REUTERS/Loren Elliott SEARCH "KOALAS ELLIOTT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES