Australia is home to the adorable and cuddly koala. Although they are frequently referred to as "koala bears," they are not bears at all!
Here are some interesting and easy-to-understand facts about these amazing creatures:
1. Not Bears!
Even though people call them "koala bears," koalas are marsupials. This means that female koalas have pouches where their babies, called joeys, grow after they are born.
2. Great Climbers
Koalas are excellent climbers! They have special hands with four opposable thumbs—two on each front paw. This helps them hold onto the smooth bark of eucalyptus trees as they climb and find food.
3. Eucalyptus Lovers
Koalas eat mostly eucalyptus leaves. These leaves are toxic to many animals, but koalas can eat them because their bodies are specially adapted to handle the toxins. They can eat up to one kilogram (about 2.2 pounds) of leaves each day!
4. Getting Water from Food
Koalas don’t drink much water because they get most of their hydration from the eucalyptus leaves they eat. This is why their name means "no drink" in an Aboriginal language.
5. Sleepyheads
Koalas love to sleep! They can sleep for up to 20 hours a day. This is because their diet is low in energy, so they need to rest a lot to save energy.
6. Baby Koalas
When koala joeys are born, they are tiny—about the size of a peanut! They are blind and hairless and must crawl into their mother’s pouch right after birth. They stay in the pouch for about six months before starting to ride on their mother's back.
7. Solitary Animals
Koalas usually like to be alone and do not interact much with other koalas outside of mating season. Each koala has its territory, which can overlap with others, but they generally avoid each other.
8. Making Sounds
Male koalas make deep, loud calls during mating season. These sounds can travel far and help them attract mates and mark their territory.
9. Lifespan and Conservation
Koalas can live for about 10 to 12 years in the wild, but some females can live up to 18 years. While koalas are not currently endangered, their homes are threatened by things like urban development and climate change, which can make it harder for them to survive.
Top 10 Koala Facts | Animal Facts | WWF
Video by WWF UK
10. Koalas Can Swim
While koalas are not known for being strong swimmers, they can swim if necessary. They use their strong limbs to paddle through water, which can help them escape from predators or find new trees during floods. This ability is quite surprising given their tree-dwelling lifestyle36.
