NOEL KING, HOST:

Good morning. I'm Noel King. Koala counting is difficult because the fluffy little bears hide in trees. So the Australian government announced that it will spend over $1 million to count the country's koalas using high-tech methods. The New York Times reports of the conservation effort will incorporate heat-seeking drones and acoustic surveys. Scientists will still use some old-school methods, though, like looking for koala droppings. It's MORNING EDITION. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.