All About Koalas

Koalas Aren't Bears!

Many people think that koalas are bears since they have a thick fur coat, they climb trees, and look chubby, but they actually aren't! Bears and koalas are mammals, but only the koala is a marsupial. Bears have a layer of fat under their skin to help keep them warm, but koalas just have a thick fur coat to stay warm.

A Cutie-Pie Koala

Where In The World Do Koalas Live?

Koalas live in thick, beautiful forests on the east coast of Australia. The northern koalas live in Queensland, while southern koalas live in New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia.

The koala is an animal that lives in the trees, also called a arboreal. Koalas sleep and eat in the top parts of gum trees, also known as eucalyptas trees.

A Sweet Little Koala

A Koala's Body

Even though a koala's body may look large and heavy, it is well-matched to live high up in the trees. The koala is quite muscular. It uses its strong muscles to climb trees and hold onto branches.

A thick fur coat helps the koala stay warm when chilly winds blow through the trees. The fur grows very close together, keeping the koala's skin dry.

A koala's tail is short and small so that it doesn't get in the way when the koala is resting on the branches.

A koala mother's pouch opens to the rear. A special muscle is in charge of it. When the mother koala tightens the muscle, the pouch stays closed. By doing this, her baby can stay safe and warm inside the pouch.

What Do Koalas Eat?

Koalas are herbivores, so they mainly feed on the leaves of eucalyptus trees. Sometimes, though, they feed on cherry and tea tree leaves. A few times, koalas lick the ground to get salt and other minerals that are not contained in gum tree leaves.

How Does A Male Koala Attract A Female?

Males attract females by letting out a low, bellowing sound.