LEARN MORE ABOUT THE KOALA
While koalas currently aren’t listed as an endangered species, 80 percent of koala habitat has been lost to human homes and businesses, drought, and fires. That makes life hard for an animal that needs eucalyptus forests to survive, like koalas do. Koalas also are at risk when close to human populations and being killed by cars or dogs. Many people are working together to protect koala habitat and help these cuddly looking creatures survive. And you can help too!
The Koala or, as you have learned from Sydney is often inaccurately called a koala bear, is a herbivorous marsupial native to Australia.
It is easily recognizable by its stout, tailless body; round fluffy ears and large nose. The koala has a body length of 24-33 inches and weighs anywhere from 9 - 33 pounds. The koala color ranges from silver gray to chocolate brown. Koalas from the northern population are typically smaller and lighter in colour than their counterparts further south.
WHERE THEY LIVE
KOALA FACTS
WHAT YOU CAN DO
There are many organizations that are dedicated to saving the koala. Perhaps the most well-known is the Australian Koala Foundation. Their website contains a lot of information about ways that people all around the world can help save the koalas.
Koalas typically inhabit open eucalypnds leaves of these trees make up most of their diet. Because this eucalypt diet has limited nutritional and caloric content, koalas are largely sedentary and can sleep up to twenty hours a day!
They are asocial animals and bonding usually will be limited between mothers and her babies. Adult males communicate with loud bellows that intimidate rivals and attract mates.
Being marsupials, koalas give birth to underdeveloped young that crawl into their mothers pouches (much like the kangaroo.) They will stay in the safety of the mother's pouch for the first six to seven months of their lives. These young koalas are known as Joeys and are fully weaned at about one year of age.
Koalas were hunted by the indiginous Australians and depicted in myths and cave art for millennia. The first recorded encounter between European explorers and the koala was in 1798.
Because of its distinctive appearance, the koala is recognized and loved worldwide. It is now considered vulnerable by the Australian Government. Sanctuaries have been established and translocation efforts have been underway. However, the biggest threat to their continuing existence is habitat destruction.
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