Koalas are native to Australia. Currently, their habitat has decreased by almost 80% due to mass logging of eucalyptus trees. It is remarkable that they have not yet been listed as endangered species. Here are 20 interesting facts about koalas:

  1. Out of 700 existing species of eucalyptus, koalas consume only 50 of them.
  2. Koalas living in the northern eucalyptus forests of Australia have grey fur. In the southern parts of the country, there are larger specimens with brownish fur.
  3. Koalas have large noses of black or pink color.
  4. The brain size of modern koalas has significantly decreased compared to their ancestors.

These marsupials have poor eyesight but excellent sense of smell, which helps them find edible types of eucalyptus.

  1. They have a nocturnal lifestyle, being active only 4-6 hours a day.
  2. Koalas can consume up to a kilogram of eucalyptus leaves per night. They almost never need to drink water, as eucalyptus leaves provide them with enough moisture.

Eucalyptus is toxic to the vast majority of animals, but a unique bacterium in the koalas' digestive system allows them to excrete toxins without damaging their esophagus.

  1. Koalas spend most of their time in trees. Their powerful limbs and sharp claws help them climb trees. They grip and hold branches with two fingers, physiologically separated from their other fingers.
  2. Koalas and primates are the only animals with fingerprints.

Koalas can produce a variety of sounds, which are particularly loud during the mating season. They can even snore and scream.

  1. They have scent glands on their chest that they rub against trees to mark their territory.
  2. Koalas spend only 15 minutes a day communicating with each other.

Females give birth to joeys 35 days after mating. Joeys are born hairless, deaf, and blind. Their height does not exceed 2 cm.

  1. Koalas are marsupial mammals. Joeys leave the mother's pouch after 6 months.
  2. In the wild, these Australian marsupials live 12-14 years, while in captivity, individuals can live up to two decades.

The first written mention of koalas was dated January 26, 1798. They were encountered by John Price, a servant of the governor of New South Wales.

  1. Today, there are fewer than 80,000 individuals in Australia, and in a couple of years, this number may drop to 43,000.
  2. In the early 20th century, European settlers hunted koalas massively for their thick and soft fur. According to experts, by 1924, more than 2 million individuals had been killed in Australia.
  3. Indigenous tribes consider koalas wise animals and seek their advice. Aboriginal people believe that these animals can turn barren lands into dense forests.