15 Adorable Facts About Koalas to Celebrate International Wild Koala Day
Celebrate International Wild Koala Day by discovering the fascinating, adorable world of koalas—sleepy, tree-hugging marsupials that are as unique as they are endangered!
- Alyana Aguja
- 5 min read
International Wild Koala Day honors the adorable and endangered koala, a drowsy marsupial that lives most of its life in the branches of trees in Australia. Famous for their signature fluffy ears, specialized eucalyptus leaf diet, and extraordinary capacity to sleep as much as 18 hours a day, koalas are a crucial component of wildlife in Australia. Nonetheless, they are increasingly threatened by habitat destruction, disease, and climate change, so conservation measures are more important than ever to safeguard these popular animals.
1. Koalas sleep for 18 hours a day
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Koalas are famous for their lengthy naps. They spend almost 18 hours each day sleeping in the trees. Their eucalyptus leaf diet, which is very low in nutrients, means they need to conserve energy by resting. This puts them among the sleepiest animals on the planet!
2. Koalas are finicky eaters
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Koalas only feed on eucalyptus leaves, and from more than 700 species of eucalyptus trees, they will only eat leaves from around 50. The leaves are poisonous to most animals, but koalas possess a specialized digestive system to neutralize them. They are so fussy that every koala has a favorite eucalyptus tree!
3. They possess a “thumb” on their front paws
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Koalas possess two opposable “thumbs” on each of their front paws, enabling them to grip branches with ease. This special adaptation helps them climb easily and keep a firm hold while sleeping or eating. Their feet are ideally suited to life in the treetops!
4. Koalas have a keen sense of smell
David Clode from Unsplash
Koalas also depend heavily on their sense of smell to identify ripe eucalyptus leaves and suitable mates. Male koalas especially possess a very pungent musky smell that they employ for communication and marking their territory. With this powerful sense of smell, they are able to move efficiently in their eucalyptus woods.
5. They communicate through bellow calls
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Koalas are generally docile animals, but males make very loud, bellowing calls during mating season, heard for several kilometers. These calls attract females and scare off other males. Their sounds may surprise you because they are far louder than you would anticipate from such a small animal!
6. Koalas possess fingerprints that are very similar to human fingerprints
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Koalas’ fingerprints are almost identical to those of humans that even professional forensic experts struggle to distinguish between them. The ridges and patterns on their fingers are identical to ours, down to the whorls. This amazing trait makes them even more lovable to us!
7. They have a low metabolic rate
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Koalas possess a very sluggish metabolism, yet another explanation for why they sleep so much. Their diet of eucalyptus leaves, which is low-energy, prevents them from getting sufficient calories. In return, they save energy through resting and only move when necessary.
8. Koalas are marsupials and not bears
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Koalas aren’t actually bears but marsupials, as are kangaroos. They are most closely related to wombats and belong to the family Phascolarctidae. They have taken the name “koala” from the Aboriginal name meaning “no water " because they very rarely consume anything besides eucalyptus leaves for a drink.
9. The stomach of the koala is highly specialized
Simone Dinoia from Unsplash
The koala’s stomach is divided into multiple chambers, which allows it to break down the tough eucalyptus leaves. This highly specialized stomach helps them detoxify the toxic compounds in the leaves. It’s one of the reasons koalas are able to live off such a seemingly unappetizing diet!
10. They have strong family bonds
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Mother koalas keep their babies in a pouch until the age of six months, after which the joey travels on the mother’s back. Even after venturing out of the pouch, the baby remains close to its mother, holding onto her for security and warmth. This close family structure enables young koalas to learn survival techniques from their mothers.
11. Koalas are not social animals
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Koalas are naturally solitary, with each one creating and maintaining a territory in their forest home. They live individually, only meeting for mating reasons. This is partly because the eucalyptus trees require so much food, keeping the number of koalas that can inhabit an area small.
12. They possess big, woolly ears
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Koalas are immediately identifiable by their huge, fluffy ears, which enable them to detect the distant calls of predators or other koalas in their environment. The ears also play a crucial role in cooling down the body temperature, as they can release heat. They may be cute, but these ears are vital for survival!
13. Koalas are great swimmers
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Although most koalas prefer to remain in trees, they are excellent swimmers. They have been observed swimming across rivers to avoid predators or to seek new sources of food. Their muscular limbs and buoyancy assist them in remaining afloat while they paddle around in the water.
14. Koalas also possess a unique “pouch” for their young
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As with all marsupials, female koalas have their babies in a pouch during the early part of their lives. The pouch is forward-facing, protecting the joey from harm and keeping it warm as it grows. When the joey is mature, it begins to stick its head out and hold on to the back of the mother.
15. Koalas have serious conservation issues
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Koalas are presently listed as vulnerable because of loss of habitat, disease, and the impacts of climate change. Wildfires specifically have ravaged their numbers since these animals are dependent on particular eucalyptus forests for shelter and food. Preservation is very much needed to provide a future for this cherished Australian symbol.