Koala facts

Here are some interesting facts about koalas!

The koala is an iconic Australian marsupial. They have thick fur which can be brown or grey in colour, large ears, a black nose and no tail. Often referred to as “koala bears”, they are more closely related to kangaroos, possums and bandicoots than to true bears.  

Koalas are well adapted for life in the trees, with sharp claws for climbing. They can be found mostly across the eastern states of Australia. Koalas can sleep for up to 18-20 hours a day and are most active at night (nocturnal).

The adult males weigh between 6-12kg and females between 5-8kg. During breeding, males make loud snarling coughs and bellows.

Koalas have a specialized diet of almost exclusively eucalyptus leaves (folivore). They are so particular that out of Australia’s 600 types of eucalyptus tree species, they are known to only eat the leaves of about 30 of these species! What’s even more unique, is that eucalyptus leaves are toxic to most animals due to their high level of phenolic compounds. But koalas have specialized adaptations that allow them to break down toxins in the leaves. One of the key adaptations is specialized genes expressed in the liver.  

Naturally solitary animals, koalas live within a network of overlapping home ranges, which allows contact between males and females for mating. 

Joeys (baby koalas) are born after only 35 days and are less than 1 gram in weight at birth (about the size of a jellybean). The young stays in the mother’s pouch to develop further for about six months and then clings to her back for another six months. This close relationship helps the young koala learn essential survival skills from their mother. 

Koalas are sentient beings – they think, feel and have unique personalities

• They recognize familiar individuals. Koalas use scent and vocalizations to identify family members, neighbours and potential rivals.
• Koalas have an incredible sense of smell. They rely on their noses to choose the best eucalyptus leaves, recognize territory markers and detect potential mates.
• They communicate with different vocalizations. Koalas produce deep bellows, grunts and even squeaks to express emotions, warn others of danger or establish dominance.
• Koalas have social structures despite being solitary. They maintain loose social networks within overlapping home ranges, avoiding conflict while still interacting with known individuals.
• They adjust their behaviour in response to the weather. Recent research shows that koalas adjust their behaviour according to environmental cues, lowering their body temperature in response to extreme heat.