What do Koala Bears Eat

Koalas, the extremely cute looking and cuddly species of marsupials, are found in abundance in Australian states like Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales and also in some of the places in eastern and southern Australia. These Australian animals are nocturnal, herbivorous mammals that have thick, soft gray colored fur, sharp claws and a big black nose. They have established their habitat in the eucalyptus forests and coastal islands of eastern and southern Australia and their habitat should necessarily consist of other Koala colonies and their preferred food tree species. They are socially stable mammals and they spend most of their time on the eucalyptus trees. The trees also provide them with protection against their predators. Some very interesting facts on koala bears are on their diet and feeding habits. Here's some interesting information on their feeding habits and their diet.

What does a Koala Eat
Koalas are herbivores and have a unique diet, that can be considered as the most exceptional diet of any mammal. They mainly feed on the leaves of the different species of eucalyptus trees and the eucalyptus leaves alone provide them with all the necessary nutrition. They do not drink water or seldom drink water, as their water needs are also taken care of by the eucalypt diet that they indulge in. About 50% of the content of eucalyptus leaves is water. Sometimes, they also feed on the bark and buds of the eucalyptus trees.

Koalas are extremely choosy and fussy about their diet, and are very well aware of the existence of all the various species of eucalyptus trees. As per statistics, there exist around 650 species of eucalyptus trees in the eucalypt forests of Australia. Of the 650, koalas can consume around 50 of the species, but their preference lies with just 10 of them. Not only are they particular about the species of eucalyptus tree leaves that they feed on, but their attention to detail is such, that they consume the leaves and buds only after they have reached a particular stage of maturation.

Eucalyptus leaves consist of approximately 13% tannins, 2% minerals, 50% water, 18% fiber, 8% fat, 5% carbohydrates and 4% proteins. They also contain toxic oils, that are extremely poisonous to other animals, and koalas, the greater glider and the ringtail possums, are the only three mammals that can survive on a eucalypt leaves diet. It might seem surprising how koalas can survive on such a diet, but nature had equipped them with extraordinary mechanisms that ensure their survival. Their digestive system has specialized adaptations that detoxify the toxic oils in the eucalyptus leaves, and this detoxification process is also aided by their liver which produces glucuronic acid. Glucuronic acid enables koalas to quickly excrete all the toxins. Koalas also have an additional part in their digestive tract, known as the 'cecum', that breaks down the food further and aids digestion. They also have a very slow metabolic rate, that allows them to retain food and energy for a longer period of time.

The species of eucalyptus tree chosen by the koala for feeding, also depends on the area of its habitat. Koalas residing in the southern region of Australia, feed on a species of eucalyptus trees, known as the swamp gum and manna gum, while those residing in the northern areas, feed on the species known as blue gum, gray gum and red gum. Other favorite species of eucalyptus trees include yellow box, small-leafed peppermint and tallow wood.

What does a Baby Koala Eat
An adult koala eats around 2.5 pounds and a baby koala eats around 1.5 pounds, of eucalyptus leaves everyday. Initially, baby koalas feed on their mother's milk for around 6 to 8 months. After that period, a substance called pap, which is a kind of dropping produced by the mother, is eaten by the baby koala along with the consumption of mother's milk. The pap contains leaves broken down by the mother's digestive system, and it initiates the baby koala onto the eucalyptus leaves diet. This helps the baby koala with the transition in its diet. The pap also transmits healthy micro-organisms from the mother's body to the baby koala, which is essential for its growth and development. The baby koala feeds on its mother's milk, till it is about a year old and then it feeds on the tender eucalyptus leaves, that are specially chosen by its mother, until it learns to pick the leaves by itself.

Apart from eucalyptus leaves, koalas also occasionally feed on wattle, paper bark, pine trees and tea trees. At times, they also climb down their trees to eat gravel and soil, to fulfill their requirement of minerals and help them to digest the eucalyptus leaves. The survival of koalas is becoming difficult, owing to the increasing depletion of their food habitats, due to deforestation and the exploitation of the eucalyptus trees.