Koala Research Paper

Though often called the Koala “bear,” this cuddly animal is not a bear at all. It is a marsupial, or pouched mammal. After giving birth, a female Koala carries her baby in her pouch for about six months. When the baby emerges, it rides on its mother's back or clings to her belly, accompanying her everywhere until it is about a year old. Koalas live in eastern Australia, where the eucalyptus trees they love are found. In fact, they rarely leave these trees, and their sharp claws are absolutely perfect for climbing. During the day, they sleep tucked into forks or nooks in the trees and sleep for up to 18 hours. When they are not asleep, a Koala eats the eucalyptus leaves, especially at night since they are nocturnal creatures. Koalas do not drink much water and they get most of their moisture from these leaves. …show more content…
Koalas even store their food in pouches located in their cheeks. In the wild, they can live about 20 years, weigh about 20 pounds and are about 3 feet in height. The predators of the Koala are the python, owls, eagles, and dingos. These fuzzy animals populations have shrunk dramatically due to excessive hunting in the 1920’s and 1930’s as well as the loss of their natural habitats. Wildlife groups have planted over 1,000 trees in the Koalas’ former forests, but their populations are still smaller and scattered. Because Koalas need a lot of space, about a hundred trees per animal, their population decrease is a pressing problem as Australia's woodlands continue to shrink. Koalas, while not technically a bear, are one of Australia's most interesting mammals and beloved