At Metacoda, we’re not only passionate about providing SAS users with an easy way of managing and securing their SAS metadata, we’re also concerned about the provision of a secure future for one of Australia’s most famous animals, the koala. That’s why we’re delighted to be hosting a “name the koala” Twitter competition at SAS Forum Deutschland.
Keep up to date at SAS Forum Deutschland with the Mobile App
If you’re attending SAS Forum Deutschland the mobile app is a must have. Even the metacoda koalas have downloaded their copy.
Having the mobile app and getting the latest news on Twitter (with #sasf15) are 2 of the 7 Last-Minute-Tipps Zum SAS Forum 2015.
Koalas Under Threat
Although often known as the ‘koala bear’, the koala – despite appearances – isn’t a bear at all but the last surviving member of an ancient group of marsupials who have lived in Australia for millions of years.
Once thriving in the eastern part of Australia, the koala was hunted to the brink of extinction in the 19th century and although populations recovered during the 20th century, they now face a new threat to their natural habitat.
Koalas live in the eucalyptus tree forests along Australia’s coast, and spend most of their time in these trees eating leaves. It is thought the name ‘koala’ comes from an aboriginal word for ‘no drink’ (koalas rarely need to drink).
Koalas are in serious decline suffering from the effects of habitat destruction, domestic dog attacks, bushfires and road accidents. The Australian Koala Foundation estimates that there are less than 100,000 Koalas left in the wild, possibly as few as 43,000. You can see how they determined those figures here.
Metacoda – sponsoring the Australian Koala Foundation
The Australian Koala Foundation (AKF) was formed in 1986 to protect the koala through research, conservation and community education. Key to this is mapping sightings of koalas, which the AKF documents through a free, online, koala map. AKF CEO, Deborah Tabart OAM, is committed to ensuring a Koala Protection Act is enacted into Australian law, similar to the Bald Eagle Protection Act in the USA. And as a completely self-funded organisation the AKF needs support.
We’re proud to support the work of the AKF, and we hope to help with raising awareness in Europe of the challenges facing the koala, by having a “name the koala” Twitter competition at SAS Forum Deutschland.
Your Chance to WIN a Soft Cuddly Koala and Adopt a Koala
All you need to do to get the chance to win an AKF-branded toy koala is to give the koala a name. We will also adopt a koala on behalf of the winning entrant. You can enter by either tweeting your suggested name using @sas_d @metacoda #sasf15 (e.g. Name des Koalas “Bruce” @sas_d @metacoda #sasf15) or write your koala’s name on the back of your business card and drop it into the provided box at the conference.
We’ll announce the winning entry at the barbeque and live music event at 18:00 on 9th June 2015. We look forward to seeing you there.