Australia is the only country in the world blessed with koalas, especially in the east of Australia where there are a lot of eucalyptus forests. Here are some interesting facts about koalas.
1. Koala is not a bear
We all call them koala bears, but clearly this animal belongs to the ‘guinea pig’ family, which is the same family as Kangaroo, Wallaby and Possum. This means that Koalas also have pouches, and newly born koala babies will be raised in their mother’s pouch for up to 7 months until they are fully developed.
2. Koala means “does not drink water”
An interesting feature of this adorable animal is that it drinks very little water. Since ancient times, their ancestors often avoided going to the banks of rivers, lakes, or streams, because these were places where predators could easily attack them.
In the Aboriginal language, ‘Koala’ means ‘don’t drink water’ because we rarely see them drinking water. It is believed that koalas keep moisture in their bodies from eating leaves.
3. Koala’s main food is eucalyptus leaves
The only thing koalas eat are the leaves of the eucalyptus tree, also known as the eucalyptus tree. However, this leaf is poisonous. Only koalas can digest this type of leaf because their body has an organ called the cecum that helps them
Easily digest this type of leaf. Due to their immature digestive system, young koala babies do not eat eucalyptus leaves immediately after birth but remain in their mother’s pouch until they are 6 months old.
4. Koala is a nocturnal animal
Scientific literature shows that koalas can sleep up to 20 hours a day thanks to a low-calorie diet. They are active mainly at night, dawn and dusk. They sleep very well thanks to a low-energy diet from eucalyptus leaves, not to mention most of the body’s energy is spent on digestion. It is best to limit movement. An adult koala can eat about 1 kg of leaves in one night.
5. Koalas have poor eyesight
Scientific literature shows that koalas have poor eyesight and rely heavily on their other senses. Thanks to their excellent hearing and keen sense of smell, they are able to track their particular species and other predators, as well as find their favorite food.
6. Koalas can run as fast as rabbits
Surprising right? Don’t let their unkempt, sluggish and slow appearance fool you. Koalas can actually run as fast as rabbits, but they don’t run unless necessary to save energy for digestion.
7. Newborn koalas are only 2cm long
Koalas are only 2cm long when born, but when mature they are 60-85cm long and weigh 14kg. Koalas can live up to 20 years without being threatened.
Females can live up to 18 years and often outlive males. Males begin mating at around 3-4 years of age. Females begin to mate and are ready to breed at about two years of age.
It must be said that Australia is very lucky to have this beautiful animal. They are almost as symbolic of Australia as the kangaroo. You can find out more interesting information about Australia on the Viettourist website.
