Koalas are tree-dwelling, marsupial animals that live only in eastern Australian eucalyptus forests. Koalas thrive on eucalyptus leaves, box leaves, and mistletoe, and may not leave their treetop dwellings for days at a time. Eucalyptus leaves are poisonious to most mammals, but not koalas.
They eat 2-2 1/2 pounds of food a day. They spend 20% of their time eating and 80% of their time sleeping. Koalas are the most loved marsupial mammal. Formerly hunted for their soft fur, they are now protected by law.
Koala, common name for arboreal marsupial animal that in appearance somewhat resembles the toy teddy bear, and in habits somewhat resembles a sloth. The koala reaches a length of 60 to 85 cm (24 to 33 in) and has a maximum life span of 13 to 18 years. It has a large, round head with large, round, furry ears and a stout body covered with thick ashy-gray fur. The animal has a vestigial tail. Its legs are short; its feet are large, and each has five toes, two of which are opposable to the other three. Each toe bears a strong claw. The female bears one young at a time. The young koala is then kept in the marsupial pouch for about six months, after which time the female carries it upon her back until it is half grown. Did you know that the baby koalas are called joeys? Well they are. The mother will have 1 young every 2 years. Twins are rare.
On Kangaroo Island, off the coast of South Australia, koalas and their habitat are under threat. Eighteen Koalas were originally introduced to the island in the 1920,s. The colony has now swelled to the five thousand mark and they are literally eating themselves out of house and home. In stark contrast the koalas of Queensland and New South Wales are fast dwindling in numbers due to disease and loss of habitat caused by humans.
Koalas may then be flown to main land South Australia for release and resettlement.
Whether released on Kangaroo Island or the mainland, koalas are back up their favourite eucalypt trees within hours.
The female matures when she is four years old. When her babies are born, they look like worms, naked, blind and pink. They crawl into their mother's pouch to nurse and stay there for six months. You don't even know they are there until they stick out their furry little heads. They crawl onto their mother's back, but if they are frightened they cry like babies and crawl back into the pouch. Gradually the young females will move to other trees, but the males might hang around too long, then their father has to give them a sharp cuff to make them move out.
Like all animals, koalas have enemies, too. Their worst enemies are domestic dogs, forest fires and man. Men like to kill them for their beautiful furs which they will then sell.
Koala Bears 2
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