Koala is not a bear?
People often call them koala bears, but in fact this animal belongs to the “kangaroo” family, along with Kangaroo, Wallaby and Possum. That means Koalas also have pouches, and newborn koala babies will be raised in their mother’s pouch for up to 7 months, until they are fully grown.
Appearance of Koala bear
Koala bears belong to the family of medium-sized animals. They have flat snouts, small eyes and seem to have difficulty seeing. Their noses are dark and somewhat flat, but quite large and leathery. Their teeth are adapted for handling tough leaves, with their incisors having exceptionally sharp edges. The Koala’s ears are round, widely spaced and relatively large, with long hair at the edges. Their tails are quite short, almost invisible.
All Koala bears’ legs are long and slender, allowing them to easily move through tree branches. The upper brush of the legs also includes several parts to help them move. Their legs are lower and not so strong.
Koala bear claws have several advantages, given their length and arc shape. Thanks to these characteristics, they can easily climb on tree branches and withstand weight up to 15kg.
One surprise is Koala bear fingerprints, which in every respect are equivalent to human fingerprints. This is quite special and has to do with the structure of their sexual organs. Female Koala bears have two vaginas and two uteruses, while males have two penises.
However, the Koala bear’s brain is surprisingly small, accounting for only 0.02% of its entire body mass. Perhaps their ancestors were likely more intelligent with a larger brain mass, but since the life of Koala bears does not require much brain activity, evolution has led to such changes. However, their cuteness is not affected by this.
The Koala bear’s fur is short and thick, providing a pleasant feeling when touched. However, this characteristic has led to this animal being strongly hunted by humans for its fur. The color of the coat is usually smoky gray, and the underbelly is lighter in color, which may appear brown.
What is the main food of Koala?
Koala bears only eat the leaves of the eucalyptus tree, also known as the eucalyptus tree. However, this leaf contains poison. Koalas are the only species capable of digesting eucalyptus leaves, thanks to an organ in their body called the cecum, which helps them digest the leaves easily. Due to their immature digestive systems, young koalas do not eat eucalyptus leaves immediately after birth, but instead remain in their mother’s pouch until they reach 6 months of age.
Koalas are active at night
According to scientific studies, koalas are capable of sleeping up to 20 hours a day thanks to their low-calorie diet. They are active mainly at night, dawn and dusk. Koalas can sleep soundly by eating low-energy eucalyptus leaves, in addition to spending most of their body’s energy on digestion. Limiting activity is also important. An adult koala can eat about 1 kg of leaves in one night.
According to scientific literature, koalas have weak eyesight and rely heavily on their other senses. Thanks to their excellent hearing and keen sense of smell, they are able to track members of their own species and other carnivores, as well as find their preferred food.
Koala can run as fast as a rabbit
“It’s surprising, isn’t it? Don’t let their untidy, lazy and slow appearance confuse you. In fact, Koalas have the ability to run as fast as rabbits, but they only run when necessary to save energy for digestion.
Newborn koalas are only about 2cm long
At birth, Koalas are only about 2cm long, but when mature, they can reach a length of 60-85cm and weigh about 14kg. Koalas have a lifespan of up to 20 years without being threatened by danger.
Female Koalas often live longer than males, with a lifespan of up to 18 years. Males usually begin mating at about 3-4 years of age, while females breed and are ready to breed at about two years of age.
When born, koala bears have no fur, eyes, or ears, and are only the size of a small pea. Immediately after birth, koalas climb into their mother’s inverted pouch, a pouch that can be opened and closed at her will, and they cling to one of her nipples.
During the first 6 months, baby koala bears stay in their mother’s pouch and only eat mother’s milk. During this time, they will develop ears, eyes, and fur. Then, at about 30 weeks of age, baby koalas will begin to eat a soft food called “pap,” secreted by their mother.
The koala bear will continue to stay with its mother for another 6 months, climbing on her back, drinking milk and eating leaves. After staying with their mother for about 12 months, baby koalas will search for food on their own in the surrounding areas. However, the baby koala will continue to accompany its mother until it reaches the age of 2-3 years old.
Along with the Kangaroo, the Koala Bear is a beautiful symbolic animal of Australia. Every year, millions of international tourists join the Australian tour to see this cute animal. If you love these adorable animals, you definitely cannot miss the opportunity to travel to Australia.
