All About Koalas

All About Koalas

Written by: Paige Leal

Koalas are adorable wild animals with fluffy ears, round noses, and big sleepy eyes. But don’t be fooled by their cute appearance, they can defend themselves with sharp teeth and claws! Koalas belong to the marsupial family, which means mothers carry their babies in pouches. Because of this, they aren’t actually bears, even though many people mistakenly call them “koala bears.”

Habitat

Koalas live in eucalyptus forests throughout eastern and southern Australia. These woodlands are filled with eucalyptus trees which is their main source of food, water, and shelter. Koalas depend completely on these trees, meaning they cannot survive without them. So, where you find eucalyptus trees, you’re likely to find a koala nearby.

Sadly, koalas are being pushed toward extinction because of how their habitats are being treated. Their eucalyptus forests are being cleared to make space for roads, homes, and farms. It’s important to protect these environments because koalas rely on the trees for everything; food, water, shelter, and safety. 

Diet and Digestion

Koalas are extremely picky eaters, sticking to a steady diet of eucalyptus leaves. When desperate, they may nibble on leaves from other trees, but those are only secondary options. Eucalyptus leaves are tough and toxic to most animals, yet koalas can eat them thanks to their special adaptations. Their long intestinal pouch, called a caecum, is filled with microbes that break down the fibrous leaves and remove toxins. Koalas also get most of their water from eucalyptus leaves, which means they rarely need to drink from other sources.

Koala Behaviors 

Because their diet provides little energy or protein, koalas spend most of their time sleeping up to 18 to 22 hours a day! When they’re awake, they still conserve energy by staying mostly still. However, they do move from branch to branch to eat, groom, or find a new resting spot.

Koalas also have unique features that help them survive in the trees. Their paws are designed for climbing, with rough pads and sharp claws for gripping. They even have three fingers on each hand, with two opposable thumbs, giving them a strong and flexible hold on branches.

Keep Koalas Safe

Koalas are amazing creatures who live solitary lives, spending their days sleeping and eating high in the treetops. Their world is full of fascinating adaptations that make them perfectly suited to life among eucalyptus forests. But as their habitats shrink and new dangers appear, it’s more important than ever to learn about these gentle animals and do our part to protect them from extinction.