Koalas are not bears. They are marsupials carrying their young in a pouch and are most closely related to kangaroos and wombats.
They sleep 14 to 18 hours during the day and eat eucalyptus leaves the rest of the time.
And look very cute doing it too.
When koalas are born they are the size of a jelly bean. The “joeys” grow in the mother’s pouch and finally emerge when they are about five to six months old. Then they ride on their mother’s back for about a year. They aren’t mature until they are three or four years old.
The koalas live high in the leaves of the eucalyptus trees they eat. Of about 600 varieties of eucalyptus (gum trees), they only like 120 kinds and of those there are really only 4 to 6 that are their favorites. This limits the territory koalas tend to inhabit.
There are only about 40,000 to 80,000 koalas left in Australia as their territory is shrinking due to encroaching human population. They are also prey for dogs and cars. Adelaide has built stiles across the median barriers on major highways to allow the koalas to pass more easily and avoid being hit.
They communicate with other koalas by snoring and belching. You have to love the little guys. When stressed koalas bellow a loud cry that sounds like a human baby wailing.
They have two thumbs on each of their front paws that allow them to grip and climb. Gives “sleep tight” a new definition.
MedFlies 