Koala: The Sleepy Marsupial

Lesson Plan - Get It!

Audio:

What Is a Koala?

Koalas are marsupials, a special kind of mammal with a pouch for raising babies.

Like all mammals, koalas are warm-blooded, have fur, and feed their babies milk. But unlike most mammals, they carry their babies—called joeys—in a pouch after birth.

A newborn joey is tiny, about the size of a jellybean. It stays inside its mother’s pouch for about six months, then climbs out and rides on her back or belly for another six months while learning to survive on its own.

Koalas are sometimes called koala bears, but they aren’t bears at all. They’re their own kind of animal, and they have some pretty unique habits!

Where Do Koalas Live?

Koalas are native to eastern Australia, where they live in eucalyptus forests. These trees are more than just a place to nap—they’re also the koala’s favorite food!

Koalas rarely leave the treetops unless they need to move to a new tree.

What Do Koalas Eat?

Koalas are herbivores that eat almost nothing but eucalyptus leaves. There are over 600 types of eucalyptus trees, but each koala chooses leaves from just a few favorites.

The leaves are poisonous to most animals, but koalas have a special digestive system and helpful bacteria in their stomachs that break down the toxins.

Even though they eat a lot of leaves—about 2 pounds a day—eucalyptus leaves are low in nutrients. That’s why koalas sleep so much: 18 to 22 hours a day!

Koala Bodies and Behavior

Koalas are built for life in the trees. They have the following.

• Two thumbs on each front paw for gripping

• Sharp claws and tough paw pads for climbing

• A curved spine that lets them rest on branches

• A pouch that opens toward the back, to keep out dirt while climbing

Koalas are also nocturnal, which means they’re active at night and sleep during the day.

They rarely drink water, getting almost all their moisture from the leaves they eat. In fact, the word koala comes from an Aboriginal word meaning “no drink.”

Koalas usually live alone, but they communicate by making noises like snores, grunts, and even screams!

Challenges Koalas Face

Koalas were once hunted for their soft fur. Today, they’re protected, but they still face dangers.

Habitat loss is the biggest threat. Koalas need about 100 eucalyptus trees per koala to survive, and as forests are cleared, they have fewer places to live.

They also face dangers from cars, dogs, and disease. While not officially endangered yet, scientists are keeping a close watch on koala populations to help protect them.

Now that you’ve climbed through the koala’s world, it’s time to test what you’ve learned!

Get ready to leap into the Got It? section for a fun and fact-filled review.