Koala Bear

A koala is a gray fuzzy mammal that lives in eucalyptus trees in eastern Australia. They are otherwise classified as marsupials, since their young are born immature and develop in their pouches.http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/koala.html http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/world/koala.html#cr The premature infant lives in its mother's pouch for about six months, then emerges to cling to her back or underside until it is a year old.http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/koala.html Since koalas have a very low metabolic rate they sleep for up to 18 hours a day, wedged in nooks or forks in the trees.http://www.realaustraliatravel.com/koala-facts.html Their sharp claws and opposable digits keep them upright as they doze.http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/koala.html A koala's home is several trees they visit regularly, called home trees. Koalas have their own home range, and they do not visit other home trees unless breeding.http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/world/koala.html#cr

Koalas can eat two and a half pounds, or one kilogram, of eucalyptus leaves each day.http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/koala.html These leaves are usually highly toxic to other species, but a koala's special digestive system enables it to break down tough eucalyptus leaves and remain unharmed by the poison.http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/koala.html http://www.realaustraliatravel.com/koala-facts.html They have a keen sense of smell and use it to tell the difference between eucalypt leaves, of which there are over 600 varieties.http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/world/koala.html#cr Through reintroduction, koala numbers have recovered from when populations plunged due to hunting in the 1920s and 1930s. However since their populations are smaller and scattered, and each individual requires about 100 trees, living safely as Australia's woodlands continue to shrink remains difficult.http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/koala.html

While koala populations remain low, they are not an endangered species.https://www.savethekoala.com/koalasendangered.html With continued habitat destruction, bushfires, domestic dog attacks and road accidents, conservation groups aid in keeping them off that list. The Australian Koala Foundation estimates that there are less than 80,000 koalas left in the wild, possibly as few as 43,000.https://www.savethekoala.com/koalasendangered.html The Australian Federal Government passes responsibility for protection of koala habitat to the states, and there are four states where koalas live in the wild - Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia - and each of these has its own legislation.https://www.savethekoala.com/koalasendangered.html Wild koalas continually face threats to their survival, the main one being loss of habitat. Clearing of eucalypt forests can also result in injury or death from traffic, dogs and cats, increased stress and competition for food and territory due to overcrowding.https://www.savethekoala.com/koalasthreats.html