Ready for the lowdown on one seriously cute creature? Then join National Geographic Kids as we check out ten fascinating koala facts!

Facts about koalas

Koala Facts

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1) Koalas are found in the eucalyptus forests of eastern Australia. They have grey fur with a cream-coloured chest, and strong, clawed feet, perfect for living in the branches of trees!

2) Cuddly critters, koalas measure about 60cm to 85cm long, and weigh about 14kg.


 
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3) Although you may have heard people call them koala ‘bears’, these awesome animals aren’t bears at all – they are in fact marsupials. A group of mammals, most marsupials have pouches where their newborns develop.

4) When an infant koala – called a joey – is born, it immediately climbs up to its mother’s pouch. Blind and earless, a joey uses its strong sense of touch and smell, as well as natural instinct, to find its way.

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Koala Facts

5) A joey grows and develops in the pouch for about six months. Once strong enough, the youngster rides around on its mother’s back for a further six months, only using the pouch to feed.

6) Koala’s grow up to become big eaters, shifting up to one kilogram of eucalyptus leaves in a day! They are fussy, too, and will select the most nutritious and tastiest leaves from the trees where they live.

7) These magnificent mammals get their name form an Aboriginal* term meaning, ‘no drink’. It’s believed this is because koalas get almost all their moisture from the leaves they eat, and rarely drink water.

8) But check this out – eucalyptus leaves are super tough and poisonous! Luckily for koalas, they have a long digestive organ called a cecum which allows them to break down the leaves unharmed.

Koala Facts

9) Enjoy having a snooze? Well so do our furry friends! Koalas don’t have much energy and, when not feasting on leaves, they spend their time dozing in the branches. Believe it or not, they can sleep for up to 18 hours a day!

10) Although these beautiful creatures are protected by law, and not classed as an endangered species, their habitat is under threat. Sadly, around 80% of koala habitat has been lost to human homes, drought and bushfires.

* The Aboriginals are the indigenous people of Australia.

What do you think of our koala facts? Let us know by leaving a comment, below!

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COMMENTS

  • Cookies

    Awesome facts, 100% would read these different facts all day long if I could.

  • FlamingLion

    Save the koalas!

  • Lydia

    I never new about these awsome facts!

  • alicia

    wildlife is cool!!!

  • National Geographic Fan

    Very interesting'

  • emily

    awesome

  • Wowww

  • bishoy

    coool

  • Harry

    WOWWWW

  • wow

  • Elaine

    I need more information.

  • Elaine

    I need more information ℹ️.

  • Allana

    I love these facts about animlas

  • wow

  • max

    thank you for more and more info on interesting animals :)

  • awesome

  • cormahh

    SO CUTE!!!!!!!!!

  • Paige

    So cool

  • Teddy

    I love to do this when I come back to school

  • Evelyn

    Koalas are so cute.

  • milla

    I love Koalas they are so so soft

  • milla

    koalas are so cool. I learned lots about koalas from Milla

  • ella and mina and jacinta

    hi i love koalas

  • cake

    I LOVE this 10 out of 10

  • I love koalas!!!!!!

  • Flippy

  • cute

  • Shayli

  • Shayli

    I love the koala facts because koalas are my favourite animal.from shayli 6 years old

  • Shayli

  • samela

  • Hi

  • Bella

    I love how you research and put all the interesting facts together from Bella, 8 years old

  • bb

    this is cool

  • bb

    this is cool

  • odate

    I love Koalas there so cuddly and fuzzy, I even whach a show about koalas, its called izzys koala world!

  • Jodi UwU

    I love these facts and ty for doing this their so cute!

  • can't wait

  • ava

    I loved it. there so cool... and cute.

  • Tamara

    this mammal's are so cute

  • MADDIE

    IM A KOALAAAAA

  • ali

    wow so cool

  • Simrit

    I love koalas. I am very sad the they are endangered :(

  • timmyf

    coool

  • zabo dias

    thanks it helped with my homework

  • viraajkhatri

  • cordin

    thats amazing

  • Aida

  • hh

  • ALEX

    A

  • Elizabeth