Koalas are small, gray, furry, cute-looking tree-dwelling mammals that attract adults and children. Perhaps that is why children stay enthusiastic to know more about these marsupials from Australia. So, here we bring you some interesting koala facts for kids. Learn about how koalas are related to wombats, their average lifespan, height, weight, habitat, food, and socialization skills. It also gives you an insight into their distinctive appearance and survival skills. Koala facts teach us that while there are more than 600 varieties of Eucalyptus available in the Koala’s habitat, the animal really loves to eat roughly 30 of these species. Eucalyptus is poisonous to most animals. The koala’s digestive system creates bacteria that deactivate the poison. Koalas have strong arms, powerful legs and sharp claws suitable for climbing trees. Koalas are arboreal (tree dwelling) mammals, however, they do climb down to the ground to move between trees. Koala looks like a small-sized bear. That’s why many people called it a koala bear. However, the koala is actually not a type of bear. Koala is an animal from the Marsupial family. According to the One Tree Planted website, the closest relative of the koala is actually a wombat, not a bear. In addition to the secretions of the chest gland, male Koalas have also been observed dribbling urine onto trees as another means of marking the tree. Koalas are born relatively quickly after conception and are much less developed compared to newborns of other large mammal species. The koala, or the koala bear, is also known as the Phascolarctos cinereus. It is the only animal that belongs to the Phascolarctidae family. The wombat is the koala’s nearest living relative. Koalas live in eucalyptus forests, which provide them with their main source of food and shelter. These forests are found in the eastern and southeastern parts of Australia. Despite their common nickname “koala bear,” koalas are not bears at all. Europeans first met koalas in 1798. Koalas typically weigh between 4 and 15 kilograms. Koalas have a specialized digestive system that allows them to break down the toxic compounds found in eucalyptus leaves.
Can a koala be a pet?
Koalas are wild marsupials. They seem docile yet can be aggressive. Their origin is uncertain but ancestors may be wombats. There are debates on koala subspecies.
Owning a koala is illegal. Koalas need special care yet are lazy. Keeping them is banned. Despite seeming cuddly, koalas would not suit pets.
Firstly, koalas are marsupials, not bears. Still, some call them “koala bears”.
Only zoos or researchers with credentials for koala care may keep them. Donating to the Australian Koala Foundation “adopts” koalas. This supports wild koalas.
Koalas have strong claws and bites. Their habitat destruction threatens them. Planting their food trees helps conservation.
The law prohibits keeping them as pets in Australia. When young and with humans, koalas can be affectionate yet human handling stresses them.
You cannot buy or adopt a koala abroad. Transfers follow strict rules on age and captivity. Recipients must demonstrate the koala’s role.
Koala adoptions do not bring them home. Instead, your fee aids their care and research. Programs are mostly through wildlife groups.
How big do koalas get?
Koalas are 60 to 85 cm long. They weigh up to 14 kg in the south but only half as much in the north. On average, koalas are 2 to 3 feet tall. Southern ones are bigger. Northern koalas weigh 9 to 19 pounds. Southern koalas weigh 15 to 29 pounds. In Victoria, Australia is a 14 meter tall, 12 ton bronze Giant Koala. Koalas eat eucalyptus leaves. Eucalyptus is toxic so koalas’ digestive systems work hard to extract nutrients. Koalas sleep 18 to 22 hours to conserve energy from their low-nutrition diet. They eat 200 to 500 grams of leaves daily. Habitat destruction threatens koalas. Their range has shrunk over 50% since Europeans arrived. Koalas use deep grunts to communicate over distances. Males mark territories with grunts. Koalas have sharp claws to climb trees rapidly. They run over 20 mph briefly.
Are koalas endangered 2023?
Koalas lose homes due to excessive tree clearing for agriculture, housing, roads, and mining. Most performed in Australia to create pasture. The Threatened Species Scientific Committee recommended the koala conservation status upgrade in NSW, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory. Sussan Ley, Australia’s minister, accepted. “It’s a cue for governments to take a stand against habitat clearing for koalas. We can’t continue business as usual,” said HSI.
Koalas are vulnerable with decreasing populations. Main reason is deforestation, land clearing, and urban development, destroying habitat and limiting food. Other threats climate change, car accidents, and dog attacks. Iconic Australian animals, populations declined 30% over twenty years. Every day new threats to their Eucalyptus habitat. As forests scarce populations decrease.
The Australian Koala Foundation estimates 40,000 wild koalas, functionally extinct. Koalas could be extinct in NSW by 2050 unless urgent action. Queensland’s population dropped 50% since 2001 due to deforestation, drought and bushfires.
Nestled in NSW old eucalyptus forests, 15% of state’s dwindling koalas will get some protection from 2025, but environmentalists say might be too late. To shore up habitat, state plans merge 315,000 hectares of park and forest into the GKNP, twice size of London. Locals warn best trees could be gone by then, due increased logging there.
Koalas entirely dependent on Australian eucalypt forests down eastern seaboard. These forests, and koalas, once stretched across south to far west coast.