Australia is the only place on the planet where the koala lives - an unusual marsupial animal that looks like a funny teddy bear. It is impossible to confuse it with another living being, it is so unique.
Koala: appearance
This is a medium-sized animal belonging to the family of marsupials, weighing from 7 to 16 kg. The koala is easily recognizable by its large, wide head, on which a large nose with a black back, fur-covered ears and small eyes stand out very much.
The dense gray coat is short, soft, slightly darker on the back and lighter on the abdomen. This animal spends its whole life on a tree, so its limbs are very strong, adapted to wrap around a tree when climbing. This is also helped by sharp, long claws that can support the weight of the animal. Until now, scientists cannot decide who the koala is - a bear, a raccoon, or someone else. In zoos where koalas live, there is always a large crowd of people who want to look at these amazing and unusual little animals.
habitats
These marsupials live only in the southeastern part of Australia and on neighboring islands. Many years ago they inhabited the entire mainland, but with the advent of settlers they were forced out of their original places. Aborigines treat this animal with great respect. According to ancient legend, it was the giant ancestor of the koala that helped people get to this continent.
The forests where the koala lives are mostly humid tropical and subtropical. Usually these animals settle near the water, where a lot of eucalyptus grows. The leaves of this plant are the only food that the koala consumes. In the crowns of eucalyptus trees, the marsupial bear spends almost its entire life, descending only to move to other thickets.
Food of the marsupial bear
The diet of the koala is not varied. These are exclusively leaves and young shoots of eucalyptus. These parts of the plant contain a small amount of protein and a lot of toxic compounds, including It has been established that in the daily portion of the leaves eaten by the koala, there is such an amount of poison that can kill any other animal. This is probably why neither predators nor hunters are interested in koalas as prey.
These animals choose the most suitable species of eucalyptus for food, preferring those trees that grow on more trees. The concentration of poison in their leaves is much lower. Helps the animals to find the right plants, their developed sense of smell. In captivity, there is no such choice, which can even threaten with poisoning. An interesting fact is that, living in a certain part of the mainland, animals only feed on those growing near their “home”. That is why this animal is very carefully accustomed to a new diet in a zoo where koalas live. A country located on another continent is forced to import leaves for the animal for the first time from the area where it was brought from. A koala needs up to 1 kg of leaves per day. This animal practically does not drink water at all. He has enough moisture obtained from succulent leaves.
Features of the koala
This animal has some interesting features that make it truly unique. available on his fingerprints, almost indistinguishable from the human. Even in fairly large parents, whose weight is at least 8 kg, the cub is born completely tiny, the size of a bean grain and weighing only 6 g. It grows up, already being in a well-developed leathery fold located on the mother’s stomach and resembling a bag.
The baby is there for six months, eating mother's milk. Then he moves to the back of the parent. Where the koala lives, there are no arboreal predators that pose a threat, so this animal is always very slow and calm.
Lifestyle of a marsupial bear
This animal is able to sleep right on the branches for up to 20 hours a day, only at night moving through the trees, getting food. Such inactivity is explained by the too slow metabolism of this animal, which is why the need for energy is greatly reduced. For several hours, koalas can be completely immobile.
But at the moment of danger, they are able to make excellent jumps and move quite quickly, including in the water.
With their slowness and inactivity, these animals even more resemble a soft toy. Such a funny appearance captivates people, and they are happy to tame animals.
And then it doesn’t matter where the koala lives, in which country, it adapts very easily, becoming a domestic and friendly animal.
marsupials
Australia is a country famous for unusual animals that live there, completely different from those that we are used to seeing in our homeland. They differ not only in appearance, but also have a special body structure. The country where the koala lives is also famous for other marsupials. All of them are united by a fold of skin on the abdomen, resembling a bag. It is in her that the females carry their cubs for several months until they grow up. But even the kids who have grown up and are able to move independently for a long time do not part with their mother's bag.
Another very famous marsupial is the kangaroo. It is known to everyone since childhood. A bear-like burrowing herbivore called a wombat can reach up to a meter in size and weigh about 40 kg. A rather beautiful small animal is the marsupial anteater nambat, which feeds on termites. On the verge of extinction is a very family of marsupials - the spotted marten. This is a predator that feeds on small animals - mice, rabbits, birds, etc. And yet Australia is most famous as a country where koalas and kangaroos live. They can rightfully be considered the hallmark of this continent.
Koala is a small, cute, meek animal that lives on only one continent - Australia. In the Aboriginal language, the word "koala" means "does not drink." The animal really practically does not drink water, being content with the moisture contained in eucalyptus leaves. Its Greek-Latin generic name "Phascolarctos" means "marsupial bear". The koala was indeed called a bear for a long time, but it is not a bear, and it has nothing to do with bears, except that it looks like a fluffy teddy bear. In fact, the koala belongs to the marsupials, it is the only modern representative of the Koal family (Phascolarctidae).
Today, the koala is Australia's most beloved marsupial, one of the recognized symbols of Australia, but this has not always been the case. The first European settlers destroyed millions of these defenseless animals for the sake of thick fur. However, eucalyptus deforestation, drought and fires posed an even greater threat to the survival of the species. The threat to koalas peaked in 1924, when more than 2 million skins were exported. By that time, koalas had disappeared from South Australia and much of Victoria and New South Wales. As a result of public protest, a ban on hunting was introduced starting in 1944, and only after 10 years their population began to gradually recover. Currently, in a number of areas, in particular in the south of the range, the koala has again become a common species, and this animal is listed by the IUCN as causing the least concern. However, intensive deforestation poses a threat to northern populations.
Description and photo of the koala
The appearance of koalas is characteristic: the body is short and stocky, the head is large, rounded, with small eyes, large fluffy ears and a patch of bare skin on the nose. The tail is rudimentary, almost invisible from the outside. The color of thick and soft fur on the dorsal side varies from gray to reddish-brown; on the chin, chest and inner surface of the forelimbs, the fur is white. The ears are fringed with long white hair, the sacrum is covered with white spots. In the north of the habitat, the fur of the animals is shorter and less frequent.
The body length of a koala is 70-85 cm, weight is 7-12 kg. Males are more massive than females, they have a wider muzzle, and the size of the auricles is smaller. In addition, males have a scent gland on their chest, with which they leave marks on trees within their territory. Females have a pouch that opens backwards with two nipples.
The koala is remarkably adapted to a sedentary arboreal lifestyle. Its body is covered with thick fur, which protects the animal from bad weather and temperature fluctuations, which is very important - after all, koalas do not provide any shelters or shelters. Large paws are equipped with strongly curved claws, thanks to which the animal can easily climb the highest tree with smooth bark. The photo shows good views of the powerful and strong claws of the koala. If the beast plunges them into a tree, it will not fall down.
Climbing up the eucalyptus, the koala grabs the trunk with strong front paws, moving the body up and at the same time pulling the front limbs. On the hind legs, the first toe is opposed to the rest, the second and third are almost fused. On the front paws, the first and second toes are opposed to the others, providing a firm grip when climbing. The soles of the paws are bare, with a palpar pattern. An interesting fact is that the fingerprints of koalas are almost identical to those of humans.
In total, the koala has 30 teeth, three pairs of incisors and rudimentary fangs are preserved in the upper jaw. The teeth are well adapted to feeding on eucalyptus leaves, which contain a large amount of fiber. The chewed leaves undergo microbial fermentation in the caecum, which is the longest in relation to body length among all mammals (its length is 1.8-2.5 meters).
In the photo, the koala habitually absorbs the leaves of his beloved eucalyptus.
The brain of a koala compared to body size is one of the smallest among mammals, only 0.2% of the total body weight. Scientists believe that this is due to adaptation to a low-calorie diet.
Where does the koala live?
Koalas live only in Australia, where they are found on many hundreds of thousands of square kilometers in the east of the continent from northern Queensland to southern Victoria. Populations of these marsupials are often separated from each other by wide expanses of cleared forests. Koalas have chosen humid mountain forests in the south, vineyards in the north, copses and semi-desert landscapes in western Australia. The density of populations depends on the productivity of the land. In the south, in rainforests, it reaches 8 animals per hectare, and in the semi-desert zone on a plot of 100 hectares, only one individual can live.
How does a koala live in nature?
The life of koalas is closely connected with the trees of the genus Eucalyptus, in the crowns of which they spend almost all their time. They spend most of the day (18-20 hours) sleeping, feeding takes 2-3 hours, the rest of the time the animals just sit. Only occasionally do they descend to the ground to run from one tree to another.
Koalas usually sleep during the day, but at night they are busy slowly absorbing eucalyptus leaves. The movements of the animals are usually very slow, lazy, although a frightened animal is able to move very quickly.
Koalas lead a sedentary lifestyle. Most are singles, they rarely live in pairs. Adult animals occupy certain areas of habitat. Under favorable conditions, these areas are relatively small: a male can occupy only 1.5-3 hectares, females even less - 0.5-1 hectares. In areas poor in vegetation, the plot of a male can be more than 100 hectares. The territory of a dominant male can cover the territories of up to 9 females, and also the territories of subordinate males. Each animal has several favorite fodder trees on its individual plot.
In nature, the koala lives up to 10 years, the maximum known life expectancy in captivity is 18 years.
What do koalas eat? Eucalyptus Diet
The leaves of the evergreen eucalyptus serve as a constant source of food for koalas. An adult eats about 500 grams of fresh leaves per day, and although more than 600 species of eucalyptus grow on the Green Continent, only 30 of them feed on koala leaves. In different regions, preference is given to different types of eucalyptus, but mainly those that grow in conditions of high humidity.
Such a diet may seem dubious at first glance, because eucalyptus leaves are inedible or even poisonous to most herbivores. They are poor in nutrients and contain a lot of indigestible fiber, as well as poisonous phenols and terpenes. However, these animals have several adaptations that help them cope with such inedible food. They do not eat some leaves at all, the toxic components of others are neutralized by the liver and excreted from the body. Since the diet is low in calories, koalas sleep up to 20 hours a day. They conserve water, and except in the hottest weather, they get the moisture they need from the leaves they eat. Thus, evolution has given koalas a source of food available all year round and also spared them food competition.
procreation
Koalas are polygamous, with a small number of males accounting for the majority of matings. But the details of the distribution of mating between dominant and subdominant animals have not been fully elucidated.
Both female and male koalas reach sexual maturity at the age of two years. From this time, females begin to breed, while males start breeding 2-3 years later, when they become large enough to compete for the female.
The breeding season is in spring and early summer (September-January). At this time, males move over very long distances, and when they meet, skirmishes often occur between them. During "weddings" "grooms" constantly roar. These screams, consisting of loud breaths followed by gurgling exhalations, are meant to attract the attention of brides, as well as warn competitors. The call of one male usually causes a response from nearby relatives. During this period, males often mark the boundaries of their territory by rubbing their chest against trees.
The female brings in a year one litter from one, less often from two cubs. Pregnancy lasts 35 days. The cub at birth is extremely small - its weight is less than 0.5 kg. The newborn climbs into the bag, where it is securely attached to one of the two nipples. In a bag, a small koala spends about 6 months, where it grows and develops. For some time, the mother wears it on her back.
From the age of seven months, the baby switches to eating a special gruel from semi-digested eucalyptus leaves, secreted by the mother's digestive system, getting used to the food of adult animals. A young koala becomes independent by 11 months of age, but usually continues to stay close to its mother for several more months.
conservation in nature
In nature, the koala has practically no enemies, predators do not favor its meat, apparently due to the fact that it has a strong eucalyptus smell. Despite this, animals are often considered vulnerable. Although no one has officially recorded these marsupials, according to unofficial data, their number is from 40 thousand to 1 million. Habitat destruction is the main threat to most koala populations in the northern part of the range. But the situation is much more serious in the semi-desert regions of central Queensland, where about 400 thousand hectares are cleared annually for pastures and other agricultural needs. And although environmentalists are sounding the alarm and trying to stop the destruction of forests, this problem remains relevant for the agricultural regions of central Queensland.
In contact with
Many tourists are interested in the question of where the koala lives. An unusual animal spends most of its life on trees, only occasionally descending to the ground.
When climbing trees, the claws of the animal close into a strong lock, which allows it to stay on any trunk. Exactly the same claws are in the cubs, which move, tenaciously grabbing the mother's fur.
Where does the koala live? This funny animal lives in the dense forests of the wild nature of Australia. Although koalas are considered marsupials, they are similar to their closest relatives, wombats. The fur of a koala is softer and thicker than that of a relative. The ears and limbs are also much larger. On the limbs there are claws that allow the animal to easily move through the trees.
What does a koala bear eat
The question “what does a koala eat” is no longer a secret for people. Koala is a herbivore whose main diet is the leaves and young shoots of eucalyptus. They spend their entire lives in the canopy of trees. Here they eat, sleep and breed. Only occasionally you can see an animal that has descended to the ground.
At night, the animal moves in search of fresh leaves and shoots along the tree. Then he settles comfortably on a fork in the branches and sits there until the shoots run out. The leaves and shoots of not all eucalyptus trees are suitable for nutrition. The koala eats leaves that contain little protein in their composition, but are also poisonous to other animals. For this reason, koalas have no food competitors. Mostly trees of coastal zones are suitable for food for animals.
The very name "koala" in translation from the language of the natives means "non-drinker". For a long time, scientists, having found out what the koala eats, thought that he did not drink water. But this myth has been refuted by modern experts in science. Occasionally, the animal still drinks water.
It is worth noting that the slow animal shows unusual agility, fleeing from a predator. At the same time, he deftly jumps from tree to tree. Another amazing ability of the koala is the ability to swim.
What does a koala and its cub look like?
When asked what a koala looks like, everyone unanimously declares that it looks like a teddy bear. And the very definition of a koala in the category of marsupial bears is not entirely correct.
Outwardly, the koala and its cubs look like teddy bears. Big expressive eyes, huge ears and soft fur - everything resembles a toy. The color of the coat is predominantly gray with a light belly. The only similar feature of the koala and the bear is a very small tail.
What does not only a koala look like, but also its house? The animal is inextricably linked with its habitat. The koala receives all the nutrients necessary for the body from eucalyptus leaves. Occasionally, to replenish trace elements, they eat the earth. The only predators that prey on them are wild dogs and dingoes. But the koala, in case of danger, manages to climb high up a tree. Population reduction can only occur due to the disease of the animal.
How much and where does a koala sleep
Koala is a slow animal. Most of the day he sleeps, comfortably sitting on a bitch. So how long does a koala sleep? According to some reports, the animal can sleep for more than 16 hours. He sleeps mostly during the day. At night, it descends to the ground to find another tree or climb higher. Sometimes you can meet a koala that sleeps hanging on one paw.
The low-calorie food that the animal eats is quite nutritious for its lifestyle. This makes him look like a sloth. Only they can sleep as much as a koala sleeps. The metabolism is very slow, one kilogram of leaves per day is enough for him. An amazing feature of the animal is that they are silent and phlegmatic. In rare cases of injury or loneliness, they may "cry". The sound is similar to the cry of a baby.
Despite the diet, animals are prone to colds, which are the main cause of death. It is difficult to treat them for two reasons:
- the animal climbs high on a tree and clings tightly, it cannot be removed from there;
- they do not tolerate anesthesia very well.
But volunteers are doing everything possible to keep koalas from disappearing from the face of the earth. After all, these little animals like everyone without exception.
koala animal
Koala- this is a pretty cute fluffy animal that lives on the Australian continent. The second name of this animal species is " marsupial bear". Although, in fact, these animals have nothing to do with bears. The species of koalas is rather more suitable for wombats.
The name of this species of animal comes from the expression of the Australian aborigines, which can be literally translated as "does not drink." This name did not happen by chance.
Koalas do not really consume water, and they take the moisture necessary for their body from the leaves of eucalyptus trees, which are their main food. The thing is that koalas live on eucalyptus trees and rarely descend from them to the ground. These small animals are among the laziest on the planet, so getting to a water source is a big problem for them.
About a hundred years ago, the koala family suffered significant damage, being at that time on the verge of complete extinction. And the people who needed the expensive and soft fur of these animals were to blame for this. Today, koalas are especially protected, their extermination for the sake of fur has been completely eliminated. In addition, koalas are bred in nature reserves and zoos, restoring the size of the family.
However, seeing a koala in the wild is a great stroke of luck. Since the animals are under special care, they try to keep them in special reserves or nurseries, taking care of their health and reproduction. In the wild, koalas can be observed on Kangaroo Island in the southern part of the Australian continent.
koala bear
Koala body size usually small - from sixty to eighty centimeters, and they weigh an average of six to 15 kilograms. Koalas are practically devoid of a tail, they have a very small one, and it is almost invisible behind the lush fur of the animal.
The animal is distinguished by funny rounded ears, which are completely covered with a fur coat. Koala fur is soft and quite thick, has good strength. The color of the animals can be different, but basically, their fur is colored in shades of gray. Less common are animals with red or red-red hair.
Koalas are quite quiet animals, so their voices can only be heard at certain times. There are two of them - either the breeding season, or the approach of the enemy. If the koala is scared or injured, then her cry will resemble the prolonged cry of a baby.
Koala life
Koalas lead a leisurely and measured lifestyle., almost never leaving its main refuge - the eucalyptus tree. Koalas sleep almost all day (from 18 to 22 hours). Koala activity occurs at night, and does not last long. Basically, it is connected with the need to find food for yourself.
During periods of wakefulness, koalas hardly move, but simply sit on the branches of a tree, holding on to its trunk with the help of their forelimbs. If necessary, the koala can show enviable lightness and grace, deftly jumping from one tree (where the food ended) to another. In addition, these animals are able to swim well.
Photo koala
The lazy lifestyle of the koala is by no means accidental. Their diet includes only leaves and shoots of eucalyptus trees, which contain almost no proteins. Moreover, eucalyptus leaves turn out to be deadly for most animals due to the large amount of phenolic compounds.
Choosing a tree, koalas feel which of them has less poison, and feed on it. There are about eight hundred species of eucalyptus trees in the world, but koalas choose only 120 of them for their food. With a serious lack of vitamins and minerals, koalas descend to the ground and eat it to restore the balance of trace elements in their bodies.
You just want to take these lovely little animals in your arms or at least just touch them: they are cute, funny and outwardly very similar to a soft toy. Their appearance causes tenderness in absolutely everyone and wins hearts at first sight. Of course, these are koalas, the description of the appearance and habits of which truly deserve attention! Let's get to know these wonderful animals!
Bear or no bear?
Many mistakenly believe that the koala is a bear, and a marsupial! In fact, this is not entirely true. Koala is a marsupial animal that has nothing to do with bears, except that its appearance is painfully similar to a teddy bear. Scientists have not come to a consensus, but it is assumed that the koala is a wombat that evolved many years ago, which moved from the ground to a tree. But since it is still generally accepted that the koala is a bear, we will not dispute this fact.
Description
This animal looks very funny: it reaches a length of 82 centimeters, and weighs about 16 kilograms. The koala has large round fluffy ears and dense cheeks. The eyes are small, round, brown or amber in color. A funny black nose stands out noticeably - this is the only part of the koala's body that is not covered with hair. The marsupial has 4 fingers on each limb. The coat is dense, dense and unusually soft, gray on the back and light on the belly. The bag in which the little koalas are hatched opens back. These animals do not like haste, they are sort of phlegmatic people who live for their own pleasure. They like to sleep during the day and eat at night.
fatal defenselessness
The only natural habitat for these unique animals - which dearly loves these touching little animals. Another fact that makes it doubtful that the koala is a bear is its peaceful and completely non-aggressive disposition. This defenseless animal cannot stand up for itself. There was a time when koalas were mercilessly killed for their fluffy skins, which were in great demand and exported to other continents. In addition, these animals have weak immunity and poor adaptability to climate and environmental change.
In addition, koalas often die during fires that occasionally engulf eucalyptus forests. Animals frightened by fire, instead of fleeing to a safer place, only cling closer to the trunk of their native tree house, leaving themselves no chance to survive.
As a result, the number of koalas is rapidly declining, and today there are very few of them left - only about 80,000 individuals.
Menu for the marsupial
It is also interesting what the koala eats. These animals are very picky eaters and do not eat anything except eucalyptus leaves, which are very low in nutrition - they have practically no protein. In addition, eucalyptus leaves are poisonous - their fibers contain phenols and terpenes, and can also cause almost instant death.
Why is this animal not poisoned by what it eats? After all, the koala chews poisonous eucalyptus all day long and feels great at the same time! The fact is that the animals eat only young leaves from those trees that grow along the rivers - in them the concentration of toxic substances is much lower. In addition, marsupials have a unique liver, which has a function that neutralizes poison. An interesting fact is that koalas practically do not drink water - the moisture contained in the leaves is quite enough for them.
Almost like people
Koalas live separately or in small families, which consist of one male and several females. In a word, harem. Koalas breed in the first half of autumn. Pregnancy of the female lasts about 30 days and ends with the birth of one cub, the weight of which is extremely small - only 6 grams! Only the mother brings up the baby - the father does not take any part in this time-consuming process.
A small koala lives in the mother's brood pouch for about 7 months and eats milk and gruel from half-digested eucalyptus leaves there. At the age of 7-8 months, the cub leaves its cozy little world and moves to her back. Koalas - very much to say, They patiently carry their grown baby on their backs for the next 5 months. In addition, the mother koala protects the cub from all sorts of misfortunes, and during sleep or dank weather, she presses her child to herself, warming him with her warmth. Baby koalas love to sleep in their mother's arms, and only after they are one year old do they begin an independent life.
Amazing animal - koala. Whether it’s a bear or not, it’s not exactly clear, but one thing is known: this marsupial does not rush into anything, including its own growing up: during puberty, the koala enters 3-4 years, and its total life expectancy reaches 20 years .
home, home
Despite the fact that koalas are easily tamed and very attached to those who care for them, keeping them in captivity is almost impossible - after all, they require 1 kilogram of fresh eucalyptus leaves per day! Moreover, koalas should not eat the leaves of those that grow, for example, in Sochi or in the Crimea. They feel good only at home - in Australia.
Due to the threat of the complete disappearance of cute fluffies, the government of the country took them under protection and assigned the status of vulnerable animals to koalas, the existence of which is under threat of extinction. Especially for these charming animals, eucalyptus groves are planted in parks. In addition, koalas are listed in the Red Book of Australia, and there is hope that the efforts of caring people will come true, and defenseless marsupials will delight the planet with their existence for many, many millennia.