Today we read 'Animals Can Talk Too.

The Koala

Koalas are often called as "koala bears" - this is not correct. Koala is not a bear but a marsupial. The closest relative of koala is a wombat, which also has cute and cuddly appearance, but it's never called a "wombat bear". Koala's fur is thick soft and pleasant to touch. Ears have long white hairs on the tips. Koalas can live as long as 17 years, however male’s life expectancy is less than 10 years (due to injuries during fights, dogs and cars). Females generally live longer. Koalas living in an undisturbed habitat would have a greater life expectancy than those living in suburbia. Koalas prefer to move around just after sunset spending daytimes asleep in the fork of a tree. Koala spends sleeping 75% of its time. Just after sunset koalas move around and can often be heard "barking" aggressively at other koalas. Koala is the only mammal, other than the Greater Glider and Ringtail Possum, which can survive on a diet of eucalyptus leaves. Koala seldom drinks water obtaining it from the eucalyptus leaves, which are 50% consisting of water. Each koala eats approximately 200 to 500 grams of leaves per day.

 

Sam Innes