Averagelife span: 20 years Size: 60 to 85 cm Weight: 20 lbs (9 kg) Colour offur: Grey, brown, white
The Koala is native to Australia, attracting many tourists to the country.Although some call it a koala bear, it is not actually a bear, but rather, itis a marsupial (pouched mammal).
Koalas live mainly in eastern Australia. This is because there are a largenumber of eucalyptus trees in these areas. They love eucalyptus trees, rarelyleaving them. During the daytime, they tend to sleep, tucked into forks in thetrees. They can sleep for up to 18 hours a day.
When they are not asleep at night, a koala will feed on the eucalyptusleaves, and can eat up to one kilogram of leaves a day, a large amountconsidering their size! As the leaves contain a lot of moisture, koalas do notdrink much water.
There is an increasing awareness of the need to protect koala populations. Withdecreasing numbers due to urban expansion, drought, disease and loss ofhabitat, it is hoped more will be done to ensure this cuddly animal andAustralia national icon to save the koala from declining.
