Facts about the Koala

1. First of all, Koalas are found only in Australia. In the cold Southern parts, they have long, shaggy fur; in the Northern warmer parts, the fur is shorter. Koalas used to be hunted for their fur once. That is banned by law nowadays. The koala has large round furred ears, a large dark soft leathery nose and beady eyes. The mouth appears small but can open quite wide. Koalas do not make a nest or seek any shelter. They live on eucalyptus trees.

2. Even though Koalas look like soft, cuddly teddy bears, they aren't bears or even remotely related to bears. Koalas have a closer kinship with Kangaroos and Wombats. They are marsupials, which means they carry their young in pouches.

3. The Scientific name for a Koala is Phasclarctos Cinerus. The word Koala means ‘no drink', and refers to the Koala's ability to go for days without water. It is an ancient aboriginal term.

4. Koalas get the water content they need from the Eucalyptus leaves on which they feed. Aside from the Greater Glider and the Ringtail Possum, the Koala is the only other mammal with a digestive system that can feed solely on eucalytus leaves - incidentally, these leaves are highly poisonous if eaten by humans. There are about 600 varieties of eucalyptus trees. Koalas feed on only about 120 of these.

5. Koalas feed mainly at night and can eat about 5 kilograms of leaves at a time. The Koala eats by putting the leaves in his mouth at an angle and then chewing with his molars.

6. Koalas sleep during the day. They sleep for nineteen hours every day. Koalas sleep in the fork of a tree.

7. Koalas have two thumbs on their front paws and sharp curved claws on all the digits, which assist them in their extraordinary climbing ability. The second and third toes on the hind foot are joined together - Syndactylous toes - and have rough pads. They are used for grooming and climbing. The Koala can run as fast as a rabbit.

8. The fingerprints of Koalas are amazingly like those of human beings - enough to cause confusion.

9. The Koala is the only arboreal marsupial without a tail.

10. A Koala has an appendix that is 2m long and 10cm in diameter.

11. Koalas have an acute sense of smell and hearing.

12. Male and Female Koalas can be told apart by the size of a dark scent gland in the center of their chests. n the center of the male Koala's chest. He demarcates his territory with this. To tell female and male koalas apart you must look at the chest. If there is a large scent patch on the chest, then it is a male. If there is a small scent patch on the chest then it is a female. The scent patch will look like a black patch with a hole in the middle. It is used for marking territory on trees.

13. Koalas are usually solitary animals except in the breeding season.

14. Koalas make grunting and wailing sounds to communicate with one another.

15. Koalas only have one young per year. Koalas breed in summer, and the young are born about a month after mating.

16. The Koala offspring are known as 'joeys'. They are only 2 cm at birth and are born without fur - they can't regulate their body temperature until they grow fur - and with their eyes and ears shut. The Joey remains in its mother's pouch for at least seven months and after that rides on her back until ready to care for itself. Koalas take three or four years to mature.

17. The Joeys are not capable of digesting Eucalyptus leaves initially and need to eat special micro-organisms found in the 'pap' or droppings from their mothers.

18. Only a certain number of Koalas can exist in a given area if they are to remain healthy and well-fed. The rapid loss of their habitat is threatening the Koala population. When Koalas become upset and worried ("stressed") by the loss of their homes, they may get a disease called "Chlamydia".

19. There are probably around only 2,000 to 8,000 wild Koalas in Australia at present.

20. Koalas are killed every year by Dogs, Cats, Dingoes, Goannas, Eagles, and Owls. They also die of disease and accidents.