Tree Tops

Koalas are found in South Eastern Australia and have been described as an "ash colored pouched bear." But they are not bears. They are mammals, meaning they feed their young on milk, and they are marsupials, meaning they carry their developing young mostly in a pouch. The name koala comes from the Aboriginal saying that means "no drink." The koala obtains enough moisture from the eucalypt leaves that it lives on; thus, it requires no other water.

LOCATION

Because of the reliance on their one food source, koalas are found where there are suitable eucalypt forests (gum trees) and woodlands, which is along Australia's East Coast and inland of the mountain range known as the Great Dividing Range.

ACTIVITY

The koala prefers to move around neither in daylight or night, but rather just after sunset. Usually daytimes are spent asleep in the fork of a tree, as 80% of its time is spent sleeping. For a couple of hours after sunset it will move around quite a bit feeding and can often be heard "barking" aggressively at other koalas. It does, though, at times feed at night and during the day. Koalas are solitary animals having their own specific home range.

DESCRIPTION

 Koalas are usually ash-grey with a white chest.  Males are larger than females. Thick fur, fluffy ears and a broad flat nose give them their "cuddly" appearance. They have strong limbs and large hands to help with climbing trees. They have a short stumpy tail, which is of no assistance to them in climbing.


2 SPECIES
(South & North)

Southern Koalas are  up to 1/3 larger than the northern variety.


FEEDING 

As already mentioned, the koala survives almost exclusively on eucalypt leaves. However, not just any type of eucalypt.  Their choice changes with seasons, local conditions and personal preferences. It is thought there is about 12 species of eucalypt leaves that a Koala can feed on. Eucalypt foliage, though high in fiber, is very "bitter" and contains many toxins harmful to most lifeforms. Koalas have a longer caecum (part of the intestine), which allows more time for bacteria to break down the otherwise-indigestible eucalyptus fiber.


BREEDING
  Mating occurs normally between October and February (summer). The baby is born five weeks after conception, blind, hairless and less than an inch long. It then crawls into its mothers pouch and drinks from one of the 2 teats.  For the next 6 months, the baby stays in the pouch drinking milk. During the next period, before being weaned at around the age of 1, its dietary needs are supplemented by eating some of the mother's feces. That supplements the bacteria in its own caecum which aid the baby's own digestion of eucalypt leaves.

THREATS

Like most wild animals, destruction of habitat is a major threat. Predators such as feral dogs and dingoes are also a problem, as is highway traffic. Some "mainland" koala colonies have declined due to a disease called chlamydiosis.

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