The most popular of Australian animals, koalas are only found in Australian eastern states, where there are eucalypt forests. Koalas look different in north and south because of the climate: the southern individuals are much larger and have thicker and longer fur to keep them warm in cold weather. But despite the different appearances, Australian koalas are all the same species: Phascolarctos cinereus. Here are some pictures of koalas, and some koala info like facts about koala sleeping, baby koalas, what do koalas eat, is koala endangered and where do koalas live. In the end of the page are the places where to see koala in Australia.
Where Do Koalas Live? Koala’s closest relative is wombat - another great example of unique Australian animals. While wombat lives on the ground, koala developed into a tree-dweller, but both kept their backwards pouch. Koala is the only surviving member of the family Phascolarctidae.
Koala Sleeping and What Do Koalas Eat You probably know that koala is a very sleepy animal, but why? It’s because it eats eucalypt leaves which are toxic and very low in nutrients. It uses a lot of energy detoxifying the leaves and sleeps 20 hours a day. This leaves it with only four hours for eating, and mate, there is no time to waste – it has to eat more than one kilogram of leaves a day to satisfy its energy needs. It doesn’t eat leaves of all eucalypts (there are 900 species of Eucalyptus in Australia and many Australian animals only live in Eucalypt forests). It has been seen in 120 kinds of eucalypts, but its favourites are blue, manna and swamp gum.
Facts about Koalas - Angry Koala Koala is a solitary and territorial animal with a territory up to three hectares. A mature male dominates the territory, which also includes several females and younger males. Koalas are not dangerous animals, but male koalas do defend their territory.
Facts about Koalas - Baby Koalas A female gives birth to one young 35 days after fertilisation. After five months in the pouch, the young is ready for outside world but travels on its mother’s back for the first 12 months. After two years, young males take off to find their own territory.
Endangered Koala - Is Koala Endangered? Koalas were killed in large numbers in 1800s when their skins were sold to England and the USA. Today the populations can locally be endangered in places, but generally it is considered to be a secure species.
Zoo Parks Having Koala in Australia You can also visit one of Australia’s many animal sanctuaries and zoo parks: Melbourne Zoo in Melbourne, Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane, Australia Zoo on the Sunshine Coast, Billabong Sanctuary south of Townsville and Kuranda Wildlife Noctarium north of Cairns to name a few. It is popular amongst tourists to get a photo taken with the cuddliest animal in Australia.
NOTE: This website is written in British English, which is the English we use in Australia. You will find words like "traveller", "harbour" and "realise", and they are all correct in the language used in Australia.
