FACTS ABOUT KOALAS
- Tuesday 10th December 2024
- Koala, Wildlife
Koalas are often referred to as ‘koala bears’, but did you know that they are not bears at all. Koalas are actually marsupials, which meansmean they give birth to highly underdeveloped young which they suckle in a pouch on their mother’s belly. A baby koala, or joey, is around 2 cm2cm long when they are born, they are furless and their eyes and ears are still closed. They spend the first 5-7 months of their lives in their mum’s pouch before emerging. Once they emerge, they will stay close to their mother for a while before finding a new home range.
Read on to learn more fun facts about koalas…
1. Four Thumbs Up!
Koalas have two thumbs on each front paw, giving them excellent grip for climbing and holding food. Koalas in cooler climates have thicker, darker fur, while those in warmer areas sport thinner coats.
2. Koala-Talk
Koalas communicate through deep bellows, especially males, who use them to establish dominance. Their calls are among the loudest of any Australian mammal and may sound like snores or belches.
3. Population Decline
Koalas are a vulnerable species due to habitat destruction from agriculture and urban development. This loss of habitat threatens not only koalas but many other native Australian species.
4. Home Sweet Home
Koalas live within a defined "home range," consisting of favourite trees they visit regularly. These ranges can cover up to 1.5 hectares and are crucial for their survival.
5. They Don't Migrate
Koalas are extremely territorial and don’t migrate. They will typically stay in the same home range their entire lives, only moving within it to forage for food or find a mate.
6. Eucalyptus: Poisonous but Perfect
Eucalyptus leaves are toxic to most animals, but koalas have a specialised liver that detoxifies the leaves. Koalas are very picky eaters and only consume certain types of eucalyptus, around 50 out of 700 species of eucalyptus available in Australia.
7. Koala Jaws
Koalas have sharp teeth to shear through tough eucalyptus leaves. Despite their cute appearance, they need these powerful jaws to chew through fibrous leaves that other animals avoid.
8. Slow Movers but Fast Climbers
Although they move slowly on the ground, koalas are excellent climbers, using their strong limbs and sharp claws to move quickly up trees when they need to escape predators or find food.
9. Koalas Have Fingerprints
Uniquely among mammals, koalas have fingerprints almost identical to humans, making them one of the few species with such intricate patterns.
10. Marsupial Mothers
Koalas are marsupials, which means babies (called joeys) are born underdeveloped and continue to grow in their mother's pouch for about six months before riding on her back.
11. Energy-Saving Sleepers
Koalas sleep for up to 22 hours a day because their diet of eucalyptus leaves is low in calories and nutrients, and also difficult to digest. Their long naps allow them to conserve energy, digest their food slowly, and avoid overheating in the Australian climate.
12. Koala Babies Eat "Pap"
When koala joeys are ready to transition from milk to solid food, they eat a special substance called "pap" from their mother. Pap is a soft, pre-digested form of eucalyptus, rich in the bacteria they need to break down the tough leaves.
13. Koalas Rarely Drink Water
The word "koala" means "no water" in the Dharug language, as they usually get most of their hydration from eucalyptus leaves. However, during heat waves or droughts, koalas may descend to the ground to drink water directly from streams or even seek water from humans during extreme conditions.
14. Unique Pouches
Unlike most marsupials, koalas have pouches that open toward the back rather than the front. This protects their joeys from dirt and leaves as they climb trees.
15. Solitary Animals
Koalas are mostly solitary creatures, except during breeding season. They don’t form social groups and generally prefer to be left alone, which is why they are rarely seen in large numbers together.
16. Strong Sense of Smell
Koalas use their keen sense of smell to choose the right eucalyptus trees. Male koalas also have a scent gland on their chest, which they use to mark their territory by rubbing it against trees.
17. Sharp Claws for Defence
While koalas may seem cuddly, they have sharp claws they can use for defence if threatened. These claws are primarily for climbing, but they serve as an important defence mechanism against predators or intruders.
18. Chlamydia in Koalas
A significant number of wild koalas are infected with chlamydia, especially in Queensland and New South Wales. This disease can cause blindness, infertility, and urinary tract infections, which severely impact their populations. Conservation efforts, including antibiotics and vaccines, are being used to help combat the spread.
Koala Joeys We Have Welcomed to WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo
Visit Koala Rooftop today and meet these beautiful marsupials in person! Koala Photo
Want a unique koala experience? Why not enjoy a hot buffet breakfast with the koalas, plus get up close for a special photo opportunity. Breakfast With the Koalas
