What are koalas?
photograph from Wiki for Kids
- Koalas are mammals, just like we are.
- Koalas babies are called joeys.
- Koalas are marsupials. That means they have a pouch to carry their joeys.
- All marsupial babies are called joeys.
- There are three kinds of koalas all named after their state where they live.
- The most common kind is the Queensland koala.
- Koalas live in Australia in Eucalytus trees.
How koalas live
- Male koalas weigh about 20 pounds.
- Female koalas weigh about 14 pounds.
- Koalas have territories like crows and lions.
- Koalas can swim
- Koalas sleep in the forks of Eucalyptus trees.
photograph by koala.net
Koala food
- Koalas eat Eucalyptus leaves.
- Koalas smell the leaves to make sure they are not too poisonous.
- Koalas have to eat 1 pound of leaves per day to stay healthy.
- Koala means ``does not drink.'' That is because they usually do not drink.
- They get almost all of their water from Eucalytus leaves.
- Joeys eat pap until they are 6-7 months old.
- Koala moms make pap from Eucalytus leaves.
Danger for koalas
- Koala predators include: dingoes, owls, lizards, and people.
- Koalas sometime get run over by cars.
- They also die because people cut Eucalyptus trees.
- Instead of jumping from tree to tree, they walk and dingoes or other predators get them.
Extra facts
- Koalas have scent glands like pandas.
- Koalas mate in the spring and summer.