There are few animals that are cute and have unique presence only. Koalas are such animals. They are unique and they are cute. They are not seen worldwide. In ancient time they may were found in other parts of the world but now they are located only in Australia. The reason why they are found only at one place of planet earth could be hunting or it may also mean that they have evolved and adopted this shape. Let us see some more facts about them.
1. Koalas are found in Australia
The only place where koalas are found today is Australia. They live in both cold and hot places. The cold place koalas have long fur and they while the hot place koala have short fur on their body.
2. They are not bears
The most common misconception about koalas is that they are thought as one of the species of bears. They do not belong to bear family but they are closer to kangaroos and carry their young in pouches.
3. They feed on eucalyptus leaves
Koalas get their water content and food from eucalyptus leaves. They are from few species that can survive solely on eucalyptus trees. From among 600 species of eucalyptus trees they feed on only 120. Eucalyptus is extremely poisonous to humans.
3. Koala’s meaning
The word koala means “no drink”. This name has been given to them keeping in view their ability to go on without drinking water for days.
4. Feed at night
Koala feed at night. They can eat as much as five kilogram of leaves at a time. They chew the feed with their molar teeth.
5. Sleeping at day
Koalas sleep in day time. They need to sleep for nineteen hours a day to live healthy. They sleep on trees.
6. Feet
The koalas have two thumbs on their front feet. Their claws have sharp nails which help them climb the trees. They run as fast as rabbit.
7. Their finger prints
The amazing thing about the figure prints of koalas is that they are amazingly like those of humans. They are so similar in print that they can cause confusion.
8. Male and female koalas
To identify that which koala is a male, there is a natural mark on their body. on their chest in the middle there is found a dark scent patch, if it is big it is a male koala if it is small then they koala is female.
9. Young
The koala young cannot eat eucalyptus leaves so to survive they have to live on micro-organisms on the droppings of their mothers.
10. Population
There are around 2000 to 8000 koalas present in the wild in Australia. But their habitat is in danger so is their population.