10 facts about koalas!
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
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.
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) Koalas 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 from an Aboriginal* word 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.
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.
*Aboriginal Peoples are the Indigenous Peoples of Australia.
What do you think of our koala facts? Let us know by leaving a comment, below!
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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
WOW
Mollie
lemontime12y
thanks i needed this for my homework
Tfgtfgjjg
Menula
cool
Iiiiii
Bobby
My name is BOBBY
Aniya
I love koalas so much.
nisd1
awesome never knew thanks
lo
cool facts & thanks
love it
no
Mane
Ian
shahir
i love this
aarya
koalas are my favorite animals and i am very sad to hear about them dying from home the eucalyptus forest dying because of bushfires these are bad i dont even want them huted 1000 get killed each year koala are not endengerd does not mean they can be hunted mother koalas keep dying
beast
pretty good son
sofia
you have amazing info
JOY
why does a joey have to stay in its mothers punch can it come out
Christian
This website. Is the best
Isabella
it would be cool to have my dog talk
Yoshi
Thanks helped me with my school work
sunny
AMAZING
siya
koalas are the best
siya
you guys are the best
Mannat
I never knew there are only 80% of Koalas left! Thank you for writing these amazing facts!
Mannat
I like this this!
rihanna
i love koalas
katelyn
koalas are the best !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
liv
amazing
bob
Cool!
jack
I need a description not that
s
good job
Save our world heehee ;)
Lucia
I like koalas. They are fluffy
koala lover
#SAVE THE KOALA'S
emma
koalas are awesome
Beware the drop bear
Great facts
jhonothon
nice post also SAVE THE KOALAS!!!
safa
cool
Penny
I don’t like it
Cool
Wow
Wow
Chloe
WOW!
Zeenat
Cool! Quite interesting.
Louise
The last fact is sad and we have to stop it from keep happening.
holly
let us take action
Isabel
Amazing!
Jishnu
nice
skylah
that is so cute! i love koalas! Idid a report on them so i love every little bit even the tiny joeys!
sabrina mirza
Thanks for the koala poster in the newest kids magazine I have had an application for a long time and I have always loved to learn more every month!
Shelby
I have to do a essay on Koalas for a school project and I have been learning more and more every day I search and they are my favorite animal so far! SO CUTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Charlotte
I learnt alot
Rachel
I LOVE koalas
Ben
I searched this site for my homework
chloe
i love animals so so so much !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : )
Will
Koalas are so cute
suha
koalas are so cute and they are quite too
jenny
I love koalas are so cute and my favourite animal.
Jeffrey
I love koalas too.
Good
Tobia
So cute
Jalierus
I love koalas they are so cute and chubby
koala wow wow wow cool!COOL
HOW CAN THEY SLEEP FOR 18 HOURS A DAY WOW I LOVE KOALAS
djsj
they are sooooo CUTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Annie
I love koalas they are the best!
yay
My favourite animal is a koala
jayden currie
koalas are so cute and flufy
THE EPIC PIZZA KING
koalas are AWESOME
adrian
im writing a information report about koalas
Ava
Omg my friend Hollie LOVES these cute koalas
azeen
I think I am loving your koala facts so much
asher
koalas so cool
asher
koalas are such amazing marsupials
Bella
We need to help koalas
Paz
Koalas are very interesting.
luana la+cool
i love koalas so much
tiburonsin
i love koalas koalas are so cute
marti
i love koalas!!!!! they are beautiful!!!
Samuel Alasdair Shaw
There are so interesting facts. I love KOALAS. National geographic is my favorite make for animals or natural things.There are awosome!!!!
*Maqui :)
i think that koalas are an increible animal! thanks for your info.
monito
i love koalas
Pazti
Koalas are so cute and so special.Lets save their habitat. :) :3
Juan and Juan Lamuniere and Werner
They are cute and fantastic I love them
TOBIAS
Koalas are awesome, sweet and they sleep a lot! I love koalas! If I were a koala I don`t make anything!
Caro
They are lovely!! I love them!!
mj
The Koalas are beautiful and interesting !
Lauty
I Love Koalas, They are so cute, they are protected by law but the people use their homes for another things. we need to stop them. :)
Koala lover
I love koala's.They are so cute
so cute!
Alex
We speak for what is right as WE MUST STOP POLUTION ITS SO STINKY! Help these Cuties!
Alex
these magnificent Koalas cannot be lost and if so... I will be sad the rest of my life!
Jeff
Koalas my favourite animal
Renee
I love koalas and I learnt a lot about koalas
agool9
i know know alot about koalas
annabel
i love the info its wonder full to read and know i love your website it is the greatest
Isla and lewis
I love your website the animals are cute
kara
this is an amazing website and i really like animals can't wait for more fun things about animals
bobo
good website and cute pictures
wow it is lovely thing about koalas. <3
Jasmine
So cute!!!
lilylovesanimals
koalas are so cute and very fussy, this is a great site
Teah
This so awesome about koalas I want to put it on my school report
Carol
I love the pictures of the koala bears
koala
koalas are epic
Trangy
Koalas are animals and we should protect them.
Koalalligatorhinoctopus
I love how this website has everything about anything and all the animals are so cute!
Jacelyn
Cute!
Kiwi
There ok
Koalas!
MonkeyLover
SAVE THE ANIMALS!!!!
Deia2007
Thank you so much for all your ten fun facts they have helped me and made me very proud of myself
OJRG
I love KOALAS!!!!!
Hightown School
This was a great educational website for children in year 5 to use for their nature documents in English. Mrs Biddle Class 5
FluffyKoala
This was a great use for my homework and I would recommend this website!!!!!!!!
TT
Koalas are so CUTE!
sarah
i love koalas. i am a fan of em
Sophie
AMAZING
Miyu
I loved!!!!!!!!!!!! It is so awesome
Nana
Love your awesome facts
ashly
l love koalas
Vinnie
Amazing and cool to read on my iPad.
elizabeth
Thank you this is helpful!
emily
i'm doing a research project on koalas!!!
Isabella
We saw 9 Koalas at Raymond Island, Paynesville at Easter!
not suppose to tell my name online.
Thanks
sommer
I am doing a paper on koalas for school
Sophia
I love your koala facts about koalas.
boss
awsome cool
Nika
WE love Koalas
Lolli
I love koalas they rock
kamutwy54y65
Koalas are cute
GAGeorgia
I love Koalas!
katie851
koalas are so cute,I wish that I had a pet koala,WOW
-Koala man
Cool koala facts I really enjoyed them thanks ngkids again
Courtneyduell
Amazing, I understood it QUICKER than i thought!!!
Fredward
AMAZING! We need to stop cutting forests down. :+)
CJ8
This is great, but we need to start giving animals the respect they deserve.:)
ammey
love koalas helped me on my homework cool
tinky
I Love animals and the facts are amazing! And the koalas are so so cute !
Ellie1256
Those 10 facts about koalas were really interesting! The best thing about is koalas is that their my favourite animal and love to learn about them so l get national geographic magazines that has animals in it!
12Whitney
Kolas are the best
Soni
Save the koalas
Mb11
Koalas rule
Victor
So sad for the koalas
BRY-BRY
I LOVE KOALAS!!!!!!!!!!!
64groovyseal
Im doing a special project at school. I chose to do koalas because i think they are one of the cutest animals ever! Im making a power point with cool affects that is all about koalas (i used your website). I also play your awesome game, Animal Jam. I am 64groovyseal is youre wondering. (It says so on my name!) Thanks again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Leah
Great things to know about koalas!!!!!
Nevaehlynn
This was the very best article
ella may 1234
thanks for all these facts they have helped me a lot about koalas for my big project and the are very interesting facts! thanks again! xx
Suggest
You have really good deatalls
Kasper
I love em! good.
Deysigomes4@
this page is realy good but it does not give the information i want
Miraya
I read the article it was awesome and cool.You know koalas are my favorite animal.I have a art progect about koalas.
galllie
CCCCCOOOOOOLLL!!!!!!!!!
Lily1
Thats sad
Lol
Wow
Koala
This is a good website
EmilyLovesSharks
I love koalas and these facts made me love them even more!!!
Noob
Cool
SALCAL
I need some fun facts
Tililla
LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!
chocolate101234
i now love koalas
elizabeth9
do not stop
elizabeth9
dont stop this website.
elizabeth9
i like it.
GracieI
I loved it
Trixiex0x
this is cool!!!
yolo12345678900000
I think I need a poo!!!!!!!!!
lovepops300
this helped me with my homework
Koala girl123
I ??
trixie-x0x
This really helped me with my homework!!!
Emalee
Lol i love koalas
k
this realy helped, ill probibly use this website again!!!
SugarSpice
Great
nasseem
moooo
armannur
stupid
nasseem
wow
armannur
lol
Julia1-Martinez
THIS IS AN AWESOME ARTICLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
adelehello
live saver
Keli-Leigh
Exoplanetay
Rihanna1207
I really
Mi1ky03
it really helped me to finish my paper :)
alyssaj4
koala bears are so cute
fjhfbg
these animals are useless
koalasaremyfavoriteanimalever
this article is totally awesome! i love koalas. They are my favorite animal. My second favorite animal, is the raccoon. They are pretty cool as well. But koalas are very cool and grey-t!!!!! hahahaha
Jer
I think it is amazing so I am writing it all down and nosing it for school. I wanted to now more about them now.
TEOBEAR1
KOALAS THE CUTES THANKS FOR INFO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :]
TEOBEAR1
KOALES ARE THE CUTIES OF THE EARTH! Thanks for the helpful info. :]
PinkBear
I thought it was very helpful, but I would like more information next time. :]
Feran
I like your website its super cool
turtle999
I like turtles
fluffyflippers
cool koalas
EmmyBear
I loved it it helped me so much I will consider using this website agian it was very helpful for my school Sa
qwerghjiopasdfghjklzxcvbnm,
i love koalas and your website
blank
koalas are so cute i wish they are not endangered
sri908
how cute are they
memz
koalas are cute
anais
you era smart
tomek
more facts
tomek
do more facts
Dfjdfuhsdugesbjncdghk
SO COOL HELPED ME WITH MY HOMEWORK LOADS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
rainbowunicornzforever624
i searched up drought & this came up i was a bit disappointed : (
JordanP
KOALAS ARE AWESOME
JordanP
KOALAS ROCK!! Thank you lots to koalas for helping me research for I have a project at school when I have to research about koalas.
Iris22222
koalas are so cute!
Iris22222
koalas are so cute! their my favorite animal!
Iris22222
koalas are the best!!! so cute!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AJplayer
Is this one reason why koalas are in Animal Jam?
Alissa-Watters
I love Koalas and this helped me ALOT because i am doing research on this animal for a school project!
Naimah Miah
Love it cool
lexi-bug
thx i got a B on my home work
Everty Educate
Year 6 love koalas! We think that they are very fluffy and cute- but we do know that they can become threatened and dangerous. Year 6 would love to travel to Australia and meet these koalas i their natural habitats. We could go and visit them in zoos over here in the UK- England (and some of us have already met them.) Most of us here have never seen a koala in real life form, but are very close with them. Thank you National Geographic Kids for sharing this information. We cant wait for more!!!
Shiloh
Nice
Leonia
Koalas are super-duper cute
Ben
great facts
Hoya
I love koalas they are so cute
Koalabearlovoer101
Wow this helped me ALOT I never knew so many things about them!!!Great Job!!!
fizzfizzlol
i love koalas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JackMaz22
omg theyre lazy
jimmythedude
cool facts mates! supa groovy, i love kolas
Mb1
cool
Mb1
Since Im from Australia, I occasionally see them. Its quite hard to see them as the eucaliptus trees are so tall in the forests! There arent that may in the country, as animals - theyre my fav!! If you go to Australia ( the Eastern Side), dont go thinking that your going to find one because you might not. Since the eucalyptus treres are so tall, the koalas prefer to be up high. This gives you less of a chance to see them, but remember NEVER GIVE UP! Bring biocluars if you want to look up high in the tree tops for them! Mb1
Sharkygirl
Woooow! Koalas eat A LOT of food!
meghan
fun! I love this site
lol895
I like koala / there cute
enrique
they are so cute
Puffin25
These are cool!
13andstillcrazyaboutanimals2
ME + KOALAS = OTP!!! GIVE ME MORE AMAZING FACTS PLEASE!!
Simi
Great facts.They helped me alot!
alura
the 10 fact is horrible.
Hanah
Does the whole pouch thing with the Joey mean that Koalas are part of the Kangaroo family???
Nacho man
I love koalas #
Ellisha
I like the facts!
13andstillcrazyaboutanimals
Wackadoo! Great facts! my dad often calls me a koala but I dont care coz I think they are great! p.s could you do some facts on sloths? they are my favs for sure and id love to find out more!!
abc123
i never new these things about koalas
troid360
this really helped my on my homework
sniperandthewiffin5567
WOW! #ilovekoalas ! dont know what id do withouht this website. IT IS MY LIFE!
Ellie-mae
I love Animals
kikipuppykisses
this is my favorite site ever .....
tan1234
never knew this is cool !
josiah d
koalas are sooooooooooo COOL and wierd
josiah d
koalas are theBEST!
teddy2
GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ElianaG
Theyre SO Adorable!
ElianaG
Koalas are SO Cute!
ElianaG
Koalas are SO Adorable!
anna2323454
asome I love koala
True twilight
Cuuuuuuuuttttttttteeeeeeeee
EmilyL
Thanks, helped with my nocturnal animals homework.
Happykoala1
I love koalas!!!!!! :
portugal
aww sooooo cute!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and sooooo sweet
Charlotte
I love koalas this good infmashonð
Nikki-Richards
Cute
Alizaaa
these are very interesting facts about koalas!
Roseberryapple
I love koalas, i wish i had a pet koala But i have enough pets i have three dogs called molly misty and rosy rosy is my dog and one of my rabbits passed away so we have three now.
Omrao
I love koalas, theyre like giant teddy bears.
Emily
Wow!
Hanana
Wow I never knew sooooooooooooooo much about kolars
marilyn
lol nice
Henry
Awesome! I somehow wish I was a Koala, because I love sleeping!
dogsarecute0067
I love these cuddly bears!
freddie
thanx
fashion
Love Love Love Koalas !!!!!!!!!!!
Molly
amazing i have to do a presantation on koalas this was very helpful
Sachaprice123
Im doing a class assembly on koalas
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